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Lunar New Year Lanterns
Our designers have come up with these fun red envelopes, red lanterns and rabbit lanterns which you can download and make at home.
Lunar New Year is celebrated when the new moon begins between 21 January and 20 February each year. These days, fireworks and firecrackers are used and red clothes are worn to ward off the mythical beast, Nian. Red envelopes are filled with money and given to friends and family to spread good fortune for the year ahead.
During the Lunar New Year festival, houses and streets are decorated with colorful lanterns and sometimes filled with riddles. At the end of the celebrations, a lantern festival is held during a night-time parade and the Chinese dragon, a symbol of good fortune, leads the procession.
See our videos on
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There are twelve Chinese zodiac animals which rotate each year. According to the Chinese calendar, the year you were born might determine your personality. 2023 is the year of the rabbit! Anyone born in 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2023 is a rabbit. Said to be one of the luckiest of the Chinese signs, it symbolizes creativity, elegance and kindness.
Which sign are you?
You Will Need:
Paper or lightweight card
Scissors or Craft knife (adult only)
Glue stick
Cord/string if you want to hang up the lanterns
Pencil crayons/felt tip pens (if you want to decorate the blank lantern)
How to Make a Lunar New Year red envelope:
1. Print onto paper.
2. Carefully cut out the envelope shape and make a cut along the slit.
3. Fold along the dashed lines and glue the tabs to stick the envelope together.
4. You can slip some paper money inside. Or chocolate coins make a fun gift for classmates or party favors for guests if you are throwing a Lunar New Year Party.
How to Make a Paper Lantern:
1. Choose your lantern design and print onto paper.
2. Cut out the templates.
3. Use a craft knife to cut along the outer lantern lines. Children can fold the paper in half and use a pair of scissors to cut along the lines.
4. Curve the rectangular inner and glue in place.
5. On the outer piece, glue on the reverse side along the two lengths. Stick around the top end of the inner tube and then secure at the bottom end.
6. Add a handle to the top of the lantern by gluing in place.
7. If you are making the rabbit lantern, gently fold the ears in half lengthways and glue in place, inside the rabbit inner section.
8. Use the blank lantern template to make your own colorful design.
9. You can make several colorful lanterns and hang on a string to make a Lunar New Year garland.
10. Use the Meri Meri lanterns to decorate your table at home or hang on a garland. Important! Do not use with a candle/flame.
Enjoy your Lunar New Year celebrations!
Shop Lunar New Year
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