Make Your Own Spring Couplets for Chinese New Year

Spring couplets are hung by the Chinese people to invite good fortune into their homes. A couplet is a poem made up of two lines, a "head" and a "tail". In Chinese, these are called 'dui lian'.

Spring couplets are long, red banners, (a pair), with Chinese characters written on them. In China, these banners are about 12 inches long. Chinese people hang spring couplets on both sides of the entrances of their homes and at the top of the doorways. These are a symbol of celebration and merriment. By displaying these symbols, the Chinese express their hopes for a good New Year.

The origin of spring couplets has been traced back 1,000 years when peachwood characters were placed on the gates of Chinese homes.

The Chinese characters represent good wishes for the New Year and the red banner symbolizes happiness. Squares of red paper are also placed around the house. One Chinese character is written on each square. The character may represent honor, good health, or fortune.

To make your own spring couplets, you will need:

6 pieces of red construction paper (9x12)

Two pieces of construction paper (14x22)

Scissors

Black or Gold tempera paint

Paintbrush

Glue

String

First, tape three pieces of red construction paper together in a vertical fashion.

Go online for patterns for Chinese characters such as Fortune, Honor, Spring, Wealth, Blessing, and Longevity. Paint the Chinese characters onto the banner with the black or gold tempera paint and let the paint dry. You can also print out the characters or enlarge them from a book and then paste them onto the construction paper. Then paint over the characters with the black or gold tempera paint.

Use the larger construction paper to make a banner. Tightly roll up a piece of this paper. To hold the roll together, glue the edge of the end of the paper to the length of the roll and let the glue dry.

Now, glue the paper stick to the top back of the banner so that is about a half inch from the top of the banner.

Cut a 30-inch piece of string. Now, tie one end of the string to one side of the banner's stick. Tie the other end of the string to the opposite end.

For the second banner, repeat these steps.

Now you are ready to hang your banners from a door or on a wall. May you have much fortune, honor, and longevity.