Lunar New Year Inspired Lanterns

Over the last several weeks we’ve been learning about Lunar New Year traditions around the world. It’s been such a fun and engaging experience for us!

While the Lunar New Year is most often called Chinese New Year, people all over Asia celebrate. Our family has been learning about traditions in China but we will be incorporating traditions from Korea into our home this year.

One activity we’ve done is made Lunar New Year inspired lanterns:

In China, the lantern festival occurs on the 15th day of the New Year and is a way to end the celebrations. There are different beliefs about the the origins of the Lantern Festival. One thought is that its roots go back more than 2000 years ago during the reign of Emperor Ming f Han. Emperor Ming noticed Buddhist monks would light lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month and ordered all households to do the same.

The lanterns are often made of paper and symbolize a bright wish for the future. Many people in China say that red is a symbol of happiness and gold is a symbol of wealth.

Supplies:

Red and gold scrapbook paper

Scissors

Tape

Directions:

Measure a 1/2 inch line and cut it off along the paper. Set aside for later.

• Fold the paper in half and draw another line 1/2 inch from the bottom.

• Draw lines vertically from the fold to the line drawn on the bottom. You can vary distance of the lines or the the shape (curvy, zigzag, or straight).

• Cut on the vertical lines, making sure to stop at the drawn line at the bottom.

• Straighten the paper out and round vertically it to touch one end to the other. Tape the edges together.

• Take the strip you cut originally, tape it to the inside of the top of the lantern to create a handle.

• Hand from a string.

We hope you enjoy this activity and learning about Lunar New Year in China and all over the world!