Folding Paper Lanterns

Usually paper lanterns are used at festivals, mostly during the Chinese New Year. Folding paper lanterns are most commonly used during the Chinese harvest moon festival. These also are very popularly used for decorating homes, offices or hotels. Since they are easy to store, you can keep re-using them whenever the need comes up. Folded paper lanterns take up little storage space when not needed. You will see different shapes and sizes of these types of lanterns, available for purchase, hung outside homes or businesses mainly during festival time.

These are made out of bamboo or metal frames and are covered with paper, sometimes tough paper, so you can use them outdoors as well. There are various types of folding paper lanterns available - the most used folding paper lantern is the box shaped lantern, although you also can find the cylinder shaped tall lantern which can be folded too.

These lanterns as mentioned before, are a superb choice for decorating. They are mostly used to produce a dim light in a garden or a soft glow inside a home. The Chinese used paper lanterns long ago as a symbol for good luck and long life.

They can be illuminated with a battery-operated tea light that would produce a dull light in your living area or bed room, setting up the mood that you prefer. They can even create a fun and exciting atmosphere for any party if you choose to use the folding paper lanterns as decorations.

You can even make them yourself. All you need is some light colored parchment or wax paper so that the light can illuminate from inside, Popsicle sticks, glue and some battery-operated tea lights. This way you can make as many different colored and diverse shaped folding paper lanterns as you want, decorating your living space.

You can use various types of glitter or crepe paper to decorate these lanterns. Most often the Chinese use words such as “peace, love and strength” on their lanterns that are engraved in Chinese calligraphy characters.

If you choose to use candles instead of lights for lighting of these lanterns, make sure you don’t leave them unattended, as they are made out of paper and the danger for catching on fire is considerable. So, be careful not to bump into them when you are walking around.

Paper lanterns and paper lantern safety.