Simple Chinese New Year's Fun

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

Ear-numbing firecrackers, amazing noodle dishes and feeding crisp dollar bills to dancing lions; these are three things I remember most about celebrating Chinese New Year in my hometown of Hilo, Hawaii.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to ring in the start of the Chinese lunar calendar in paradise this year. However, that doesn't mean I won't be having fun ushering in the Year of the Dragon.

This January 23rd, grab the kids, don your most festive red outfits and wish each other a hearty "Xin Nian Kuai Le." Then, raid your craft closet to make these simple Chinese New Year projects which you can feature in your own parade.

Homemade Dancing Lion Costume

Materials:

Large cardboard box

Bright colored paint (red, orange, green, gold)

Construction paper

Glue

Long pieces of scrap fabric

Stapler

Directions:

Cut eye holes in the cardboard box.

Paint the box to look like a traditional Chinese dancing lion.

While paint is drying, cut out a nose and mouth from the construction paper.

Glue paper facial features on box.

Glue scraps of fabric on the box to mimic a lion's mane.

Save a long piece of fabric to use as the lion's tail.

Staple tail on back of box, and get dancing.

Handheld Chinese Dancing Lion

Materials:

Construction paper (red, green, orange, yellow)

Scissors

Markers

Glue

Tape

2 wooden chopsticks

Glitter

Feathers

Directions:

Use a black marker to draw the head and tail of the lion on a piece of yellow construction paper.

Use the scissors to cut the head and tail, and then decorate them with glitter.

Glue on the feathers to make a mane for the lion.

Fold a piece of red construction paper in half the long way.

Cut along the fold line, making two long rectangles.

Fold each piece of paper back and forth to make it look like an accordion.

Glue the two pieces together, forming one long piece. This will be the lion's body.

Glue one end of the lion's body to the cut-out head.

Glue the other end of the body to the lion's tail.

Tape one chopstick to the head and the other to the tail.

Allow glue to dry thoroughly before making your lion dance.

Related Articles:

Simple Snow Day Crafts for Kids

Sweet Treats to Make on a Snow Day

Simple Winter Boredom Busters for Kids

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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