Chinese New Year Surprise Firecrackers

Firecrackers are a major element of the Chinese New Year festival. It is tradition to throw firecrackers and make a great deal of noise to ward off evil spirits. Firecrackers are also meant to wake the dragon and push it to fly across the sky causing the spring rains to come for the crops for the survival of the population in the new year.

Children can make firecracker decorations filled with a happy surprise for the Chinese New Year observance at your school or home.

Chinese New Year Firecracker Surprise: Supplies: Cardboard tubes, ruler, red felt or construction paper, double-sided tape, twine, gold glitter paint and white craft glue.

Step One: Lay the cardboard tube on the felt or paper. Roll the tube and material until the tube is covered with a 1/4 inch overlap. Use a pen or your scissors to mark the line where the material will be cut.

Step Two: Use the ruler to mark a straight line on your felt or paper at the mark. Cut the piece of material to cover the cardboard tube. Set aside.

Step Three: Trace around the bottom of the tube to make a circular pattern adding a 1/8 inch larger circumference. Trace the shape two times for each firecracker on the felt or paper for end pieces.

Step Four: Cut a small slit in one circle for each firecracker. Cut a six to ten inch piece of twine and thread one end through the slit. Use regular tape to secure the twine in place to keep it from pulling out of the paper or felt.

Step Five: Fill the tube with the surprise*. Glue the circles to the ends of the cardboard tube with the white craft glue. Set aside to dry.

Step Six: Apply a line of the double-sided tape straight down the length of the cardboard tube

Step Seven: Place the material upside down and adhere a line of the double-sided tape down the center of the material.

Step Eight: Place one side of the felt or paper on to the taped cardboard. Run a second line of tape down the end of the opposite end of the felt or paper. Wrap the material around the cardboard tube and overlap it securing it firmly in place.

Step Nine: Use the gold glitter paint to decorate the firecrackers with Chinese symbols.

*Surprise -- Fill a plastic sandwich bag with several pieces of wrapped candies or a fortune cookie.

Source: http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/chinese-new-year-firecrackers.html