How to make a simple Red Chinese Paper Lantern at home

Easy Chinese New Year craft for kids

Chinese lanterns are symbols of not only decoration but also worship.

If you are looking for a Chinese New Year craft, this lantern craft is a good one to try. Not only does it look colorful and beautiful, but it’s also a good opportunity for you to teach kids about Chinese culture and the significance of lanterns for them.

Chinese people make lanterns in different colors. The one we are going to make is a red one.

In Chinese culture, red is considered a lucky and auspicious color. 

Red Chinese lanterns are commonly used during festivals, weddings, and celebrations as a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and happiness. They are believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

Red Chinese lanterns are also used during the Chinese New Year celebrations to welcome the new year and to bring good luck and prosperity to the household.

The color red is also associated with fire and energy, which adds to the festive and lively atmosphere during these celebrations.

So, let’s go to the tutorial and make our own version of Chinese lantern!

Materials Required:

Step 1: Cut the circles out

Take the red construction paper sheets. We need a minimum of 24 circles. If you find you need more, you can cut more circles.

Now, draw the circles on the paper as shown in the picture above.

The radius of each circle is 2.5 cm.

Cut all the circles out.

Fold the paper circle in half along its diameter as shown in the picture above. Do it with all the paper circles you cut out.

Step 2: Make the paper base of the Chinese lantern

Now let’s take another red paper sheet and a yellow sheet to make the paper base for the lantern.

We want to cut them into 3 rectangles – One red and Two yellow rectangles. Here are the dimensions of both the rectangular pieces:

• Red rectangular paper – Length=10 cm and Breadth=8 cm
• Yellow rectangular paper – Length=10cm and Breadth=1 cm

Paste the yellow rectangles as top and bottom borders on the red paper. Next, apply glue to the center portion of the paper base.

Step 3: Stick the circles onto the paper base

Now, take the folded circles and stick each of them side-by-side on the rectangular base we just made. Start from one edge of the paper base.

Here is how: Take one folded circle and apply glue on one side of it. Take another folded circle, and stick it to the first circle. Now, one flap of each of the folded circles is stuck together.

Repeat the same steps – i.e., applying glue on one side and sticking another folded circle to it – until you finish sticking all the folded circles to each other.

Now, when you reach the endpoint, stick one end of the paper base behind the other as shown above. If you find extra length on the edge, you can either add more circles or stick the extra length behind the other edge.

To finish it off, stick the flaps of the first and last two folded circles to each other.

Now, you have the paper Chinese lantern ready and what is left is hanging it.

For that, punch two holes on the top yellow edge of the lantern. The holes must be directly opposite to each other as if they are lying on the diameter of that circle.

Thread a yarn through the holes and tie its ends together. That’s it!

You are ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year! Make more of it and hang them in different places.