Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns are an essential toy and decorative item during the full-moon festival; they appear in celebrations as symbols of luck, abundance, and happiness. So what are the popular types of lanterns nowadays? How hard is it to make a Mid-Autumn lantern at home for kids?
The meanings of four popular Mid-Autumn lantern types today
Each type of Mid-Autumn lantern represents a different meaning in life; overall, all meanings point toward good things in the future. So what are the meanings of the popular lantern types today?
Star lantern
This is the lantern type most commonly seen during the annual full moon festival, a lantern in the shape of a star with a surrounding circle, usually made of multi-color nylon paper. The five-pointed star lantern is surrounded by a circle symbolizing the five elements (yin and yang), so the star lantern represents balance and harmony of all things in life.
Mid-Autumn carp lantern
The carp lantern is usually made of nylon paper like the star lantern but is often red. The carp lantern symbolizes relentless effort and rising above in all circumstances; indeed, it is a very meaningful lantern, isn't it?
Round lantern
Round lanterns are not only circular in shape; lanterns with diamond, bulging, or oval shapes are also considered round lanterns. Because of their full circle, the lantern symbolizes the full moon bright and round on the night of the full moon festival. Moreover, it also represents the beauty of nature or expresses gratitude for a year of bountiful harvest.
Folding paper lantern
As its name suggests, the folding paper lantern is made of folded paper; it can be opened and folded very simply and quickly. The folding paper lantern comes in a wide variety of shapes, from the 12 zodiac animals to superheroes, from teddy bears to princesses. This lantern type represents light and togetherness during the moon-viewing festival.
How to make a paper lantern at home to save costs
Paper lanterns are a very suitable option for parents and kids to make together at home because they are the simplest and easiest to creatively decorate. Mykingdom will show you how to make a paper lantern at home right now.
You need to prepare a few items before starting to make the lanterns; these items are:
- Colored A4 paper
- Pencil, ruler, scissors (paper-cutting knife)
- Double-sided tape
Steps:
Step 1: Take the paper and a ruler and draw lines about 1 cm apart across the paper (remember to leave about 2 cm at the start and end)
Step 2: Use scissors or a paper knife to cut along the lines you drew (do not cut into the sections left at the start and end)
Step 3: Use double-sided tape to fix the edges and ends of the sheet together so that the paper bends into a circle.
Step 4: Secure the core and the lamp together with double-sided tape, trim any excess core.
Step 5: Use another sheet of colored paper to form a circle and insert it into the gap in the middle
Step 6: Cut the handle, candle base, and tassel strands to attach to the lantern.
That is, we have completed a lantern to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Through this article, Mykingdom has helped parents understand more about the meaning of the Mid-Autumn lanterns that commonly appear during the full moon festival. In addition, we have also helped you understand more about how to make lanterns at home for your child, and we hope you will have joyful moments with family and friends this Mid-Autumn Festival.
