Juneteenth Lantern Making Workshop, Kennett Library, 320 East State Street, Kennett Square, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Free
In 1913 Chester County Commissioner, Charles H. Burns, a former slave and prominent African American entrepreneur, presided over a town parade and celebration from in front of his famous Burns’ Great Oyster House restaurant on Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of passing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Today we know this day as Juneteenth. Come out and celebrate the holiday at the new Kennett Library where we will be making lanterns to illuminate the upcoming national holiday.
Why Lanterns?
Lanterns are the iconic symbol of the Underground Railroad. The round paper lanterns we will decorate for Juneteenth serve as a symbolic reminder of our nations pledge to guarantee every American the right of free speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.
THE LANTERN
By Lynn Sinclair, Kennett Heritage Center
It’s a myth that fugitives carried lanterns to find their way in the dark.
They followed the North Star.
It’s probably also not true that Underground Railroad station masters put out a lantern to indicate a safe house.
So, why have we chosen to display a lantern as part of our Juneteenth activities?
Simply, a lantern is a container that holds a light or fire. That light is a beacon, interpreted as a symbol of love, hope, positivity, and light.
For fugitives – hope!
For Quakers – the inner light = god = love!
For the Holiday Light parade participants – positivity!
Be the beacon!
Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive