How to Make Paper Chinese Lanterns
Bright paper lanterns are part of China's annual celebration welcoming in the new lunar year. The lantern festival is held on the 15th and final night of Chinese New Year events and has been celebrated for more than 2,000 years, according to the Chinese-American Historical Society of Southern California. The festival still features lanterns of many colors and shapes--many depicting scenes and characters from Chinese history and culture. Celebrate the lantern festival with your own family by making paper Chinese lanterns. You can welcome the new year as in China, or just fill your house with color. This is a craft a child can do with supervision.
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Instructions
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Fold a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise. Run your nail along the fold to make the crease sharp.
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Cut along the folded edge of the paper every 2 inches beginning an inch from the right edge. Make sure you don't cut all the way through the paper--leave about an inch at the top of each cut. Unfold the paper.
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Roll the paper into a cylinder and apply glue along the short edges of the paper. Press the paper together. If you are worried about the glue coming undone, you can reinforce it with with either staples or tape.
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Make a handle for the paper Chinese lantern. Cut a strip of construction paper 6 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
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Tape the ends of the handle inside the top of the paper Chinese lantern.
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Repeat to make multiple lanterns hang them from a string across a room or archway as a festive decoration.
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References
- Photo Credit chinese lanterns image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
