Xiang Bao #1

Xiang Bao Sachet #2

Unique Folk Items and Handcrafts

Each of our 2007 Heritage Holiday kits featured special folk items. We have some of these gorgeous items left over and are now liquidating them in bulk. If you have a special event or party coming up, please see the bulk liquidation prices and contact us. 

Floating Lotus Lanterns

Included in our Seventh Lunar Month kit in 2007, these handmade floating lanterns shaped like lotus flowers are popular not only during Hungry Ghost Festival, but during many celebrations. The lotus represents long life, health and good luck in a number of countries. In Chinese, lotus is called “lian hua” which translates to “connect or bind” and “unison or sharing” (as in marriage or endless love).

During the Hungry Ghost Festival—when it is believed that lost souls roam the earth during the month—lotus flower-shaped lanterns and small boats glowing with candlelight are released on the waterways after dusk. This custom reminds people of those who have drowned and “offers light” to the underworld spirits. The hope is for any wandering ghosts to follow the brightly-lit path and journey into another realm. The lotus flower is part of every cycle of life! 

Our lotus lanterns are made in China and do indeed float. You can place a small tea light candle in the center of each and light if desired.

Approximately 7 inches x 7 inches at base

Xiang Bao Sachets

Included in our Dragon Boat Festival kit in 2007, these special xiang bao sachets have a long historical connection with the Dragon Boat Festival and the summer months in China. In the past, women and girls made these small sachets for a variety of purposes, including functioning as a carrying bag for both men and women. Later, people filled the pouches with strong herbs, including calamus and mugwort, to ward off possible summer infections and stinging insects.

Our lovely xiang bao sachets are handmade in China and scented with traditional herbal essence. These little sachets are perfect on bags, backpacks, purses, strollers and hanging around rooms or doorways. We have two designs to offer.

Xiang Bao #1 Design: Chang Ming Bai Sui
May You Live a Hundred years
2.5 inches x 9.75 inches

Xiang Bao #2 Design: Yi Fan Feng Shun
May you have favorable winds in your sails
2.5 inches x 6.25 inches

Miao Friendship Ball - Perfect Anytime

The Miao Friendship ball shipped with our Chinese New Year Heritage Holiday kit. The Miao are the fifth largest ethnic minority in China and excel at many handcrafts, including batik, embroidery and silversmithing. Traditionally, the young unmarried Miao girls would make these friendship or courting balls. During a festival, the girls would stand on one side with eligible young men on the other. The girls toss the balls to the crowd of men. Young men who catch a ball spend the rest of the day with the ball's maker, a young woman.

Ethnic minority women make these special handcrafted balls in Guangxi Autonomous Region. The balls are 2" in diameter and come in assorted colors. All are hand-stitched and hand-embroidered. We secured an extra quantity of these balls as they were custom-ordered and we could only order once in time for our Chinese New Year kits. While you may be able to find them in China, they are extremely difficult to find elsewhere. Our own children love them and we've hung them from doors, beds, car mirrors and just about anywhere. They are truly beautiful. If you ordered a Chinese New Year kit, you received one. You may order from our extras until they are gone!

As the balls are light-weight, but delicate, we are selling them in sets of 2 to lower total shipping costs and allow us to pack them correctly. Colors are assorted--they are all lovely, but we cannot guarantee a specific color.