A CHRISTMAS lantern parade lit up the city with families carrying colourful paper lanterns through Worcester.

On Thursday evening the parade made its way from Cathedral Square to The Hive and children were invited to help light the way.

The crowd met at Cathedral Square first to listen to music provided by Severn Arts Wind Ensembles and to sing carols. When they reached the Hive, the Rock Choir performed.

The parade was organised by the Hive and children brought along lanterns made in the Hive’s lantern making workshops. Smaller lanterns were made and decorated by children and some larger ones were carried by the mums and dads.

Melany Eastwood said: “It’s amazing, we come every year. It’s lovely they do so well. It brings the community together and the children love singing the carols and making the lanterns and it gets people to the Hive reading books.”

Janine Downes, Library service manager at the Hive said: “The parade is a way to get people talking about the Hive and what we do and it is our way of getting Christmas started.”

“This year we have a lantern that is in the shape of the Hive which is extraordinary.”

“The parade is a fantastic family event and really gets everyone in the mood for Christmas.

It’s great to see all of the children with their decorated lanterns enjoying the music and the lights as we walk through the City to The Hive.”

The parade is held every December and is an opportunity to showcase all the lanterns that have been made by children at The Hive.

A free willow wreath making craft activity from 11am to 3pm for children aged six to 12 years will also take place at the Hive today.

Christmas lanterns originate from an ornamental, star-shaped lantern from the Philippines called a parol. The design of the parol evokes the Star of Bethlehem. It also symbolises the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.

The earliest paper lanterns were found in China somewhere in 230 BC. Historically they were made with a bamboo frame.