Gung hay fat choy! Transform these glass jars into lanterns and celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration of the year in China. It’s a time of feasting with the family, fireworks and gift-giving. The celebration goes on for fifteen days, beginning with the first day of a new moon and ending with the full moon on the day of the Lantern Festival, also known as Chap Goh Mei. This year, the Lantern Festival lands on February 15th.
During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns to the temples and solve riddles on the lanterns. I saw so many lovely photos of this festival from all around Asia with beautifully illuminated lanterns, it inspired me. I’ve always had a thing for rice paper lanterns.
It’s important to expose my children to the important celebrations of other cultures. One of my younger children’s favorite stories in their language arts book was Chinatown by William Low. I thought it would fun to incorporate the two in this simple craft, inspired by the Lantern Festival and adapted by this craft.
I had so many glass jars in the kitchen cabinet, thanks to our homemade salsa habit. Heh. I didn’t have to go out and buy any, which was great. Make sure the jar is clean and doesn’t have a label on it and you can get started. I found red tissue paper and gold ribbon at the dollar store. Everything else I already had in my craft stash.
You can either cut the red tissue paper into strips or you can tear it with your hands. I chose red because that is the color used in Chinese New Year decorations. It symbolizes a bright and happy future and good luck.
First, spread a coat of Mod Podge onto the jar with a paintbrush or a sponge brush. Immediately lay the tissue paper on top of the glue. Then add another coat on top of the tissue paper and smooth it down carefully. Don’t brush too much or it will tear a hole in it. If you do make a hole, just lay another piece of tissue paper on top of it. Continue until you completely cover the jars with the tissue paper. I stopped at the lip of the jar.
Let it dry.
The Mod Podge gloss formula will make the jars nice and shiny. Once it was completely dry, I brought out my gold accents–gold ribbon from the dollar store and my beloved bottle of gold glitter glue. The gold represents wealth for the new year.
Make sure to add more gold accents to your lanterns.
Be sure to add an LED candle inside the lantern.
