Keeping the spirit of Mid-Autumn Festival through the colors of the figurines

The rice flour figurines or to he not only bring joy to children and tourists, but also evoke memories of the old Mid-Autumn Festival in the hearts of artisans. There, folk values, creativity and the spirit of preserving traditions are continued through many generations.

Born and raised in a traditional craft village, artisan Dang Van Hau is imbued with memories of the old Mid-Autumn Festival days, when dough animals were not only toys but also a part of the spirit of Children's Day. Artisan Hau said that in the past, men in the village meticulously molded each animal at home, while women carried them to the market to sell. In addition to the Mid-Autumn Festival, artisans also created many animal shapes to serve folk beliefs such as: five-fruit trays, raspberries, 12 zodiac animals, fish... as offerings.

Artisan Dang Van Hau introduces folk culture, to he figurines and traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys to foreign tourists.

In the 1960s, an old artisan in the village came up with the idea of ​​molding dough animals on bamboo sticks instead of bamboo rings, replacing rice flour with glutinous rice flour to create adhesion between the bamboo sticks and the animals, making it easier for children to hold. Thanks to this improvement, dough animals quickly became popular at festivals, and could be "transformed" according to customers' requests. During the resistance war, people, especially children, were also interested in animals with the image of soldiers, nurses, workers... reflecting the spirit of the times.

“Vietnam often considers the Mid-Autumn Festival as a children's festival. That is why traditional toys for children are very diverse and rich. Dough animals are an indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn Festival tray in the past,” artisan Hau shared.

The interesting thing is that each place, each craft street has different ways of molding dough animals. The animals on Khach Street (Chinatown) are often mythological images such as the Four Sacred Animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix... Meanwhile, the animals in Dong Xuan have many everyday life shapes such as: a pair of shoes, a tray of five fruits, a goldfish, a crab, a chicken with a tail feather stuck in the back. Phu Xuyen has a very special way of making them: a bamboo ring must be placed underneath, then molded, and steamed before selling. Thanks to that, Phu Xuyen's animals are like cakes and can be eaten; while the animals in the old town are mainly for playing, not eating.

Tourists are attracted by small, colorful toys made of clay.

Many eye-catching Mid-Autumn Festival toys are made from to he such as: Fruit trays, lion heads, mini altars...

Each line of animals is decorated with many eye-catching and attractive colors. In the past, artisans only used five main colors: Red, yellow, white, blue, black; other colors were mixed from the main colors. According to artisan Hau, the previous generations passed down the saying "First red, second yellow", when using these colors to mold animals, it will be more eye-catching, attracting the attention of children... Some molded products only take a few minutes, but there are also elaborate animals that take artisans several days to complete.

In recent years, artisan Dang Van Hau has also combined the techniques of many craft villages to mold star lanterns from clay figurines. The artisan said that the process of making lanterns includes many steps, requiring dexterity and sophistication. In particular, Dong Xuan and Phu Xuyen powder techniques are both applied, creating a harmonious combination of tradition and creativity. A star lantern usually only takes about 10 - 15 minutes to complete, but behind it is the distillation of the quintessence of many generations of artisans.

Ms. Mackenzie, a tourist from the United States, enjoyed the experience of making star lanterns from clay figurines.

Ms. Mackenzie, a tourist from the United States, could not hide her excitement when she first experienced making Mid-Autumn lanterns in Vietnam. “I have never heard of the Mid-Autumn Festival, nor did I know that there are lanterns like this. This is really the first time I have experienced it. I am very excited because through this experience I have learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and folk art. I feel like I am immersed in the culture, learning about a traditional craft that has existed for a long time. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been given this opportunity…”, Ms. Mackenzie shared.

Not only is it the joy of making a product with her own hands, for Ms. Mackenzie, what is more precious is the spirit of preserving and passing on Vietnamese traditions. “I see that Vietnam pays great attention to preserving and passing on traditions through many generations, so that children can understand and continue. That is the biggest thing I learned from the experience of making star lanterns,” Ms. Mackenzie confided.

Ms. Mackenzie chatted with artisan Dang Van Hau and recorded a travel vlog introducing Children's Day, as well as traditional toys in Vietnam.

A bright smile appeared on her face as she carefully held the lantern she had made with her own hands. For her, the gift was not only a handmade product but also a symbol of connection. “If the lantern is beautiful enough, I would like to give it to a child. I know that these lanterns are often given to each other during the Mid-Autumn Festival and to me, that is really special,” the female tourist expressed.

Not only international tourists, but also young Vietnamese people find memorable experiences. Kieu Trang, a senior student at Hanoi National University, shared that she felt very happy and surprised when she was able to complete a star lantern by herself.

“At first, I thought it was very difficult, especially the step of kneading the dough to make the figurines. If you are not quick, the dough will not stick together, but the artisans can create sophisticated, detailed items. I really admire them. When I make a product myself, I feel very happy, both challenged and relaxed,” Kieu Trang expressed.

Ms. Kieu Trang (Final year student, Hanoi National University) made a big star lantern by herself.

For Kieu Trang, the most valuable thing is that during the experience, she learned more about the craft villages, the history and unique features of each handicraft product: "I think this is an opportunity to enrich my cultural knowledge, to love and be proud of my national traditions more...".

Artisan Dang Van Hau confided that the traditional dough animals, from six animals, shoes... to fruit trays..., carry within them the spirit of the old Mid-Autumn Festival. Children in the past, when breaking the feast, were not only eager to enjoy the cakes and fruits but also fought over the cute little animals, considering them precious toys.

“I am very happy that today’s young generation is more interested in traditional arts and culture. That is a good sign, contributing to spreading ancient values ​​to today,” said artisan Hau.

With skillful hands and love for traditional crafts, artisan Dang Van Hau not only molds colorful dough animals but also preserves a piece of the soul of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, so that those folk values ​​continue to live in the modern breath.

Some other pictures:

Many beautiful toys are made from clay figurines, preserving the spirit of the old Mid-Autumn Festival.

Tourists and young people experience making star lanterns from to he.

Artisan Dang Van Hau introduces handmade Mid-Autumn Festival items to people visiting Hang Ma.

People and tourists check in with Mid-Autumn Festival items made of clay figurines, enjoying the atmosphere before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/anh/giu-hon-trung-thu-qua-sac-mau-to-he-20250922135053647.htm