How to Make a Chinese Lantern for the Lantern Festival

Lanterns are a sign of good luck in Chinese culture.

The lantern festival is an important day in Chinese culture. It occurs on the 15th day of the Chinese lunar calendar, which celebrates and promotes a good relationship between people. Some Chinese traditions claim that the date of the festival also coincides with the birthday of the Taoist god of good fortune. Thus, the lanterns are signs of good luck. In earlier times of this festival, most people carried simple paper lanterns whereas the nobility had ornate ones. While now a range of decorative lanterns are available, Chinese children still create their own paper lanterns for the festival.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Large piece of construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape or glue
• Hole puncher
• Ribbon or pipe cleaner
• Red tissue paper
• Orange tissue paper

1. Fold a large piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.

2. Make 12 cuts across the fold line. Make your cuts approximately eight to nine inches long, leaving at least a one-inch border on all sides.

3. Unfold the paper and roll it into a cylinder. Glue or tape the edges together neatly.

4. Stand the lantern upright and punch a hole onto either side of the top border of the cylinder.

5. Cut a piece of ribbon or pipe cleaner and tie either end of it through each hole to make a handle for the lantern.

6. Crumple up two small pieces of red and orange tissue paper and tape it to the inside of the lantern. This will act as your "flame."

Tips & Warnings

• Consider adding some tape around the holes that you punch to reinforce them.

References

• Kwintessential: Lantern Festival
• Enchanted Learning: Chinese Lantern
• Origami Resource Center: Lanterns