The Lantern Parade of Many Lands
A free Mid-Autumn Festival coloring page. US Letter, portrait, ready to print.
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From the story “The Lantern Parade of Many Lands” in Once Upon a Mid-Autumn Moon in Malaysia — eleven bedtime tales for ages 4–10, each with a word search and a coloring page of its own.
Room for one more lantern
A lantern parade gathers outside Ying's house: Chinese families with red tanglung (lanterns) and golden dragons, Malay families and Indian families. Her new neighbor Devi hangs back with no lantern, saying this isn't really her festival. Ying hands over one of her two lanterns and says everyone is different and everyone belongs. The girls step into the parade together.
On the page, a shining river of lanterns winds down a street under the full moon, with Malay and Indian families carrying colorful lanterns, and a girl watching from her doorway.
What muhibbah means
Muhibbah is a Malaysian word for harmony and goodwill among people of every background, and Ying uses it in the story. Malaysia's Mooncake and Lantern Festival is known for this spirit, with friends of Malay, Chinese, Indian and other backgrounds enjoying the lanterns side by side.
Who belongs here?
- Devi says this isn't really her festival. What does Ying say that changes her mind?
- Ying had two lanterns and gave one away. When has someone made room for you?
- Look at the lanterns on the page. How would you make yours different from the rest?
The girl in the doorway
Leave the girl in the doorway for last. Ask the child what lantern they would hand her, and draw it.