How to: Upcycled Lanterns for Mid-Autumn Festival
HOW TO:
Upcycled Lanterns for Mid-Autumn Festival
Photo courtesy of The House that Lars Built
Being surrounded by family, playing with lanterns, and enjoying mooncakes are musts during the Mid-Autumn Festival!
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is just around the corner! This is the day of the harvest moon celebration that takes place when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This day falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar (typically in September or October). Countries around Asia observe the festival including Hong Kong, China, Japan, and Vietnam. This is a time of year is spent being surrounded by family, eating good food, playing with lanterns, and watching lion or dragon dances.
With those things in mind, there is nothing we love more than crafting with upcycled materials to help celebrate! We've found a few fun DIY lantern alternatives so that your tykes can showcase their personalities by making one that is in modern pastels tones, another that looks like their favourite animal, or even one that is more traditional. Something special about lanterns is that they come in all shapes, sizes, and colours! Don't be afraid to modify these crafts to what you have at home!
TRADITIONAL INSPIRED LANTERNS
Photo courtesy of Spot of Sunshine
There is no wrong way to make a lantern but more traditional lanterns are made with red and gold paper. Red is considered a lucky colour. Bright red traditional Chinese lanterns are a staple of any Chinese celebration. You see them decorating temples and shrines, parks, stores, homes and offices.
Spot of Sunshine and China Family Adventure have some fun and easy more traditional looking lantern crafts that can be made with materials you already have in your craft supplies.
ANIMAL-LIKE LANTERNS
Kids love their favourite animals and what better way to make a lantern! This upcyled lantern craft from MAMAWEARPAPASHIRT only requires a few materials you already have at home as well as some wild imagination.
Photo courtesy of MAMAWEARPAPASHIRT
MODERN PASTELS & PRINTS LANTERNS
Photo courtesy of Handmade Charlotte
These modern looking lanterns will come together in a pinch! Handmade Charlotte has an easy 4-step craft to follow. Mums will also want to get in on the lantern making too!
If you do not want patterns or designs on your lantern, you are welcome to keep them colourful and minimal. Either way, they will stand out and look beautiful!
Remember, these lanterns can be made with upcycled printer paper, old artwork, or any other things you have already. This is a great family challenge to get creative with things found around the house and use them in your craft making.
No matter which lantern you choose to make, we hope you and your tykes enjoy celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival together!
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