In a typical Mexican market, you can commonly find as many as 20 varieties of chili peppers, ranging in flavor from subtle to fiery hot. Available in many sizes and colors, they are often strung together into a decorative ristra and hung on doors. "Kids often ask what a ristra is for," says Alma Trujillo, a World Showcase ambassador and a native of Mexico. "I explain that we often string chilies or garlic into ristras to hang around doorways as a good luck charm and a welcome sign."

To make our paper ristra, cut out roughly two dozen peppers in the small (2 1/2 inches long), medium (4 1/4 inches long) and large (5 1/4 inches long) shapes shown, varying the color and size. (Tip: Stack your paper so you can cut out more than one at a time.) Punch a hole into each one below the stem. Fold the twine in half, leave a loop at the top, and start stringing the "peppers," knotting the twine after every two or three peppers. Hang your ristra where it will welcome your friends.

MATERIALS

Sheets of construction paper in red, green, yellow and orange
Scissors
Hole punch
2 yards of twine

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