Blogger / 20 January, 2025 / Nanny Anita

Red Envelope Lanterns

A big part of learning Mandarin is also learning about the culture, and there is no bigger event in China than New Year.  One of the things that gets handed out during new year are red envelopes (called hong bao).  These red envelopes are filled with money.  Family and neighbours give them out to children.  Bosses give them to those that work for them.  During the lead up to New Year you will end up getting lots of red envelops to hand out.  While I was in Singapore, every time bought something, I got a bunch of red envelopes with my purchases.  What can you do with all the spare ones?  You can turn them into red envelope lanterns.

Make sure you follow my Lunar New Year board on Pinterest for more ideas.  Don’t forget to save the pin for later.

To make your own red envelope lanterns you will need:

• 6 red envelopes
• 7 pairs of take away chopsticks
• 6 wooden kebab sticks
• Red thread
• Scissors
• Elastic bands *

*Loom bands or those small elastic hair bands are great for this.

Start by cutting the corners off of each envelope.

Put one chopstick down each side of each envelope.

Get two of the envelopes and using an elastic band, attach them together at the top and the bottom.  Continue to add the envelopes to make a line of the 6.

Bring the last envelope around to attach to the first envelop.  You should have created a circle.

Use the kebab sticks to hold the lantern in a hexagon shape.  Push them between one set of chopsticks to the pair opposite it. You will have to do this at the top of the lantern and the base of it.  Trim off the parts of the kebab sticks that stick out.

Attach a tassel to the base of the lantern.

Finally attach a length red thread from the top of the lantern to a chopstick.  Now you have a red envelope lantern that you can carry around.

If you enjoyed making these red envelop lanterns, be sure to check out my Chinese Lion Dog sensory tray.

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