How to Make Oriental Lanterns
The Chinese Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Festival, occurs simultaneously with a full moon on the 15th day of the first lunar month. For thousands of years, the Chinese have displayed red and gold paper lanterns in celebration of the first full moon of the New Year. The lanterns often have riddles written on them for the amusement of festival-goers. You can make your own Chinese lanterns out of construction paper in honor of this festival or to celebrate other holidays. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Construction paper
- Ruler
- Markers
- Glue
- Glitter
- Scissors
- Tape
- String of lights
Instructions
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1
Measure and cut a 1-inch-wide strip of paper along the short end of your construction paper. Save this strip to use as your handle.
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2
Decorate one side of your construction paper with markers and/or glitter and glue. Your lanterns will hang vertically, so remember this when writing words or drawing pictures.
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3
Fold your paper in half lengthwise.
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4
Measure and mark ½-inch intervals along the folded edge of your paper.
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5
Cut along these marks using the scissors, stopping 1 inch from the unfolded edge of the paper.
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6
Unfold your paper. Fold and crease it in the opposite direction to mask the markings you made earlier.
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7
Roll your paper so that the two short ends meet and overlap. The folded part should be pointing out. Tape the ends to hold them in place.
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8
Tape your handle to the top of the lantern.
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9
Thread your string of lights through your lanterns so that each lantern hangs over a bulb.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
