The lantern festival marks the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. This year, Chinese Lantern Festival is celebrated on February 17th. Lanterns are hung to symbolize the light and warmth of spring and they are also used as signposts for the ancestral spirits to guide them home for the lunar celebration. After the fifteenth day, the light leads them back to the other world. In some region and countries, this festival is also regarded as the Chinese version of St. Valentine's Day. I thought I'd show you a few of our favorite Chinese lanterns found in our home.
This past September for Moon Festival, I picked up red paper lanterns at our local dollar store and had Josie decorate them with gold star stickers and tissue paper streamers. Any chance to use scissors, stickers and tape makes her very happy.
I added a few Chinese take-out containers to our lantern garland.
These red lanterns were on display while we were in China.
We have a smaller version of the red lanterns hanging on our china hutch.
Long after the lantern festival is over, you will find several pastel paper lanterns in my craft room on permanent display. Josie has a few hanging up in her bedroom too.
Whenever I can find them for a decent price at my favorite antique stores or thrift stores, I snatch them up.
Aren't the graphics wonderful?
I just recently picked up these Martha Stewart lantern stickers at Michael's.
A few of them made their way onto Josie's Valentine chocolate box but there are more to play with.
Happy Lantern Festival.Happy soon-to-be spring!
I love, love, love your lanterns! You are such a fun mama!
ReplyDeletebeautiful! I love lanterns!
ReplyDeleteand, I must know where you got that cute owl shirt!
Lea
xo
I didn't realize how gorgeous the graphics were on these. So beautiful. I love the that banner with the take out containers. Super creative. Happy Day. Renee
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I love those pretty lanterns, and your pastel ones are just gorgeous! So fun to add the take out containers to your lighted garland:)
ReplyDeleteGreat lanterns! Lucky little girl...with a great owl t-shirt!
ReplyDeleteNot much snow in Ohio...Mickey-here I come!
Gorgeous, as always. You have created such a lovely home for your family!!
ReplyDeleteI love the Chinese lanterns...If I could have stuffed them in our suitcases, I would have brought some home from China! One of my more recent favorite movie moments is from "Tangled" with all the floating lanterns!
ReplyDeleteWell, I am back from the Convention, but oh so very tired! Tori and I have to make her good fortune cupcakes and dip and decorate the fortune cookies for her preschool CNY celebration tomorrow. I don't know where I am going to find the strength!!!
Anyway, I love all the wonderful photos from Saturday's walk...The family photo is especially great!
Many hugs,
Cindy
So pretty!! Its so awesome that you celebrate the CNY :0)
ReplyDeleteI liked them all, what wonderful color, but my favorite shot of all is of the Valentine's Day box. Those little stickers are so adorable!
ReplyDeleteI love all the lanterns! My favorites are the antique ones....such beautiful colors. As always, Josie steals the show!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! In our Chinatown we have similar shaped lanterns in pastel colours with the butterflies on bottom, but not with those great graphics on the sides and I have never seen those lantern stickers! thanks for posting about this. I will see if I can find them in my parts. You may have seen this before, but this is really great lantern fabric
ReplyDeletehttp://allegrofabrics.com/item_1950/Michael-Miller-Patty-Young-Playdate-Chinese-Lanterns-Lime-Fabric.htm
for those of us who are lantern-obsessed! we know who we are right:)!