Activity

Advanced Paper Lanterns: Farolitos

It is common to see farolitos, or small paper lanterns, to welcome the Christmas season in New Mexico and other Southwestern states. This practice is believed to have been inspired by the use of Chinese lanterns during celebrations, but because these decorative lanterns were typically made with delicate material, Spanish people on the Santa Fe Trail eventually found that paper bags would last longer.

Displaying farolitos during Christmastime also has its roots in the tradition of luminaria, little bonfires that guided people to Mass on the last night of Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration leading to Christmas Eve.

In this activity, welcome the holiday season by making your own elaborate paper lanterns! Find the less advanced version of this activity here.

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Grade

Fifth Grade

Subject

What You Need

Paper or brown bag
Sand
Tea candle and match or electric candle
Pencil
Scissors
X-acto knife
Small piece of cardboard
Hole punch (optional)
Stencils (optional)

What You Do

Cover your workspace with cardboard to prevent cutting tables or fabric.
Set out a paper bag, pencil, scissors, and X-acto knife. Help your child use the knife with caution.
Instruct your child to draw designs with pencil. Place cardboard inside the bag to avoid cutting the other side of the bag. Have her use the X-acto knife or hole punch to cut out the designs. Assist as needed, reminding her that large holes can make the bag less sturdy.
Once the bag has been decorated, fill it with a couple inches of sand. Set the candle in the middle of the sand so that it doesn’t fall over. If you use a real candle, light it and remind your child to be careful around matches. Be careful not to let the flame burn the paper.
Make as many as you wish, and place the bags on a table or sidewalk to light a path!