By Harold Stevens
There are many kite festivals in China. The custom of kite flying is tied to the ancient religious rituals of releasing diseases or calamities with the kite. The Ch'ing Ming Festival falls 106 days after the winter solstice. It is a time to remember ancestors. Families pay respects to their dead relatives by visiting and cleaning their grave sites. Ch'ing Ming means "Pure Brightness." It is a celebration of springtime and the renewal of life. This festival takes place on the 4th or 5th of April. This year it takes place on April 4, 2009.
Now lets make a tiny Chinese Kite to celebrate Ch'ing Ming. First off you will need to pick the Chinese symbol for your kite. Make sure it's bold enough to be seen from the ground.
Supplies you will need:
manila file folder
scissors
disposable chopsticks or a bamboo skewer
washable markers
pin or paper clip to poke kite holes
sewing thread
Directions
With scissors, cut out a small, heart-shaped kite (without the dip in the top) from a folded manila file folder. Match the size of your kite to the length of the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers you will use for cross pieces. Unfold and draw your Chinese symbol on both sides of the kite with washable markers.
Fold your kite vertically along its center line. Punch out two small holes using a pin or the tip of a paperclip near the top and bottom of kite. Unfold and fold the kite horizontally about one third of way down from its top. Punch three holes each on the left and right sides of the kite. Weave the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers through the holes in a lower-case T shape.
Cut a piece of strong thread for the kites bridle and tie it to the spine. Tie a small loop of thread to the bridle. Attach another loop to the bottom of the spine and connect a long length of ribbon to it for the kite tail. Tie a kite flying line to the thread loop on your bridle. Your kite is ready for take off. Adjust the length of the tail to help the kite fly evenly.
This April celebrate the Ch'ing Ming Festival with your own tiny Chinese kites.
There are many kite festivals in China. The custom of kite flying is tied to the ancient religious rituals of releasing diseases or calamities with the kite. The Ch'ing Ming Festival falls 106 days after the winter solstice. It is a time to remember ancestors. Families pay respects to their dead relatives by visiting and cleaning their grave sites. Ch'ing Ming means "Pure Brightness." It is a celebration of springtime and the renewal of life. This festival takes place on the 4th or 5th of April. This year it takes place on April 4, 2009.
Now lets make a tiny Chinese Kite to celebrate Ch'ing Ming. First off you will need to pick the Chinese symbol for your kite. Make sure it's bold enough to be seen from the ground.
Supplies you will need:
manila file folder
scissors
disposable chopsticks or a bamboo skewer
washable markers
pin or paper clip to poke kite holes
sewing thread
Directions
With scissors, cut out a small, heart-shaped kite (without the dip in the top) from a folded manila file folder. Match the size of your kite to the length of the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers you will use for cross pieces. Unfold and draw your Chinese symbol on both sides of the kite with washable markers.
Fold your kite vertically along its center line. Punch out two small holes using a pin or the tip of a paperclip near the top and bottom of kite. Unfold and fold the kite horizontally about one third of way down from its top. Punch three holes each on the left and right sides of the kite. Weave the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers through the holes in a lower-case T shape.
Cut a piece of strong thread for the kites bridle and tie it to the spine. Tie a small loop of thread to the bridle. Attach another loop to the bottom of the spine and connect a long length of ribbon to it for the kite tail. Tie a kite flying line to the thread loop on your bridle. Your kite is ready for take off. Adjust the length of the tail to help the kite fly evenly.
This April celebrate the Ch'ing Ming Festival with your own tiny Chinese kites.
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