Chinese New Year

Paper Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration

January 22, 2013 by Betty

To help us celebrate Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, we made some fun paper lanterns. But before I show you how to make this craft, here’s a brief history of why lanterns were part of the celebration. There are many different versions and here is one from my friend Eva:

On the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration, paper lanterns were used. There were no street lights or electricity, and thus, lanterns were used as the only light source. Likewise, back in the days, all the young women were not allowed to go outside in the evenings to socialize except for this last day. Lots of love stories came from this holiday. Young girls using their lanterns gathered at the night market in hopes of meeting their prince charming. Since then, lanterns were a part of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Materials:

Colored construction paper

Scissors

Glue or tape

Pipe cleaners or chenille stem

hole puncher

Streamers

Instructions:

Fold the construction paper in half the long way or the “hot dog way” and starting at the fold line, make a series of cuts about ½ inch to 3/4 inch apart. Be sure to stop at about 1/2 inch from the edge. In other words, you don’t want individual strips.

When the cutting is done, open up your paper and now put your lantern together by gluing or taping the ends of your paper together the short way or the “hamburger way”

Here’s a lantern with the ends taped together.

Now you can spice up your lanterns with colorful streamers and a handle. I punched two holes on the top of the lantern and added a pipe cleaner for the handle. I hope you and your kids will enjoy this simple craft!

To get a brief history of Chinese New Year, click Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake.

Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake

January 21, 2013 by Betty

As we finish celebrating the New Year, I am preparing the family to celebrate another one, Chinese New Year. I love the American New Year, but I am also very fond of the Chinese New Year as well. My favorite part of celebration as a kid was those red envelopes stuffed with “lucky money,” or bills, anywhere from one dollar to twenty dollars that I received from family and friends. Then there are those vivid memories of the beautiful paper lanterns and, of course, everyone’s favorite, the dragon and lion dances. If you’d like to see a Chinese New Year craft for kids, click Paper Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration.

HISTORY
Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. This 15-day celebration starts on the first day of the month which marks the end of winter and the starting of the Spring Festival 春節 (Pinyin: Chūnjié).

February 10, 2013: Chinese New Year, Year of the Snake

The difference between the American New Year and the Chinese New Year is due to the type of calender that are used. The Chinese follows a lunar calendar that closely reflects the phases of the moon. Like many other lunar calendars, it is not in legal use, but solely for the purpose of marking traditions and/or religious celebrations. Many neighboring countries share this Lunar New Year with the Chinese, such as Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand to name a few. Regional customs in how people celebrate differs however.

Before rolling in the new year, Chinese people symbolically clean out their house to get rid all the bad stuff while welcoming good luck in the new year. Red papers, called Couplets, with words like “longevity”, “happiness,” “prosperity” are usually posted on each doorpost to bring good fortune to the family.

New Year’s Eve marks the beginning of the celebration whereby family members gather for a feast. I remember having chicken and pork and a host of other dishes with veggies and sweet desserts. And having different meat dishes on the table indicates prosperity for the family; the poor on the other hand could only afford cheaper food like rice and vegetables. The goal, as my dad puts it, is to “end the year with plenty to start the new year well.”

Starting the year well seems to be the overarching theme for the Chinese culture because what ever happens during these few days will follow for the rest of the year.

New Year, New Perspective
Now that I’m a Christian, I see a different perspective to these superstitions. I still want to teach my kids the traditions of my heritage and I also want to teach them that we no longer live in fear for Christ has cast out all our fears. I know that no matter what we say or what we do will change how much Jesus loves us. His love endures forever. Jesus also says in the Bible, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (New International Version 1984). And so, I look forward celebrating this coming Chinese Year with the family and with you as well as I will be posting some activities and crafts.

To learn how we made paper lanterns, click Paper Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration.

References:

A Phone Interview With My Dad

Wikipedia