Memories of Mid-Autumn Festival past and present

From moonlit nights in the countryside to streets lit with lanterns, Mid-Autumn Festival has changed over time. But whether past or present, it is still a season of reunion and childhood joy.

Nowadays, children receive much attention from schools and organizations during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the photo: Le Dai Hanh Ward Youth Union gives Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to students of An Lac Primary School.

Joy under the moonlight village

Mid-Autumn Festival in the past was associated with the sound of village drums, paper star lanterns, and simple food trays under the full moon. Mid-Autumn Festival today is colorful schoolyards, streets filled with lanterns, and sparkling check-in photos on social networks. Despite the changes, through many moon seasons, Mid-Autumn Festival is still an occasion for people to find memories and share the joy of reunion.

At An Lac Primary School (Le Dai Hanh Ward, Hai Phong ), on the days approaching the full moon of August, the atmosphere in classrooms preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival is very exciting. Students cut and paste star lanterns together and color paper masks.

Teacher Nguyen Thi May (56 years old) guided her students in pasting papers and said: “In the past, there were no activities like today. We just looked forward to the full moon of August to carry lanterns around the village. The offerings didn’t have much, just a few bananas, grapefruit segments, and rice paper. But it was fun because the children could enjoy the feast together and watch the moon.”

Nearly 60 years old, Ms. May still remembers and recounts old Mid-Autumn Festival memories to her students.

The simple yet warm feasts of yesteryear are unforgettable memories for many generations. Under the bright moonlight, children eagerly wait to break the feast, adults chat, and the star-shaped paper lanterns, or lanterns made from cans, grapefruits, and bamboo strips still sparkle in the night.

Mr. Tran Quang Dinh, 45 years old, in Lac Phuong commune, recalls his childhood in the cooperative yard: “There were no loudspeakers, but every Mid-Autumn Festival night, my village was very happy. The children gathered to wait for the feast, only a few pieces of cake and grapefruit but they felt happy. After playing with the star lantern, they hung it on the wall, and took it down to play with again the following year.”

Mid-Autumn Festival in those days was not extravagant, just bright moon and bustling drums were enough to complete the joy of children.

A cafe displays a tray of food with typical autumn gifts.

Preserving traditional beauty

Over time, the Mid-Autumn Festival has also changed. Today, it is not only a children's festival, but also a season of community joy, of grand lion dances, and streets filled with lights and music .

Belonging to the early 9X generation, Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang in Hai Duong ward said: “When I was little, every Mid-Autumn Festival, my mother took me to buy battery-powered lanterns that played music. That was a trendy item for us at that time, whoever had one would show it off to the whole neighborhood. Now, when I take my child to the city, I see lanterns of all shapes and colors, from cartoon characters to superheroes and princesses.”

Many young people also find their own joy in the full moon season. On social networks, young people are excited to show off their Mid-Autumn photos taken at coffee shops, neighborhoods, or classically decorated spaces.

Nguyen Ngoc Mai, a student at Phuc Thanh High School, came to a coffee shop in Thanh Dong Ward to check in half a month before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mai shared: “I really like the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere, especially taking photos in a space with colorful lanterns and masks. Although it is modern, it still has a very nostalgic feel.”

Ngoc Mai enjoys checking in with the creative Mid-Autumn Festival space at the coffee shop.

Along with the changes in life, moon cakes also take on a new look. If in the past, baked cakes and sticky rice cakes with mixed fillings were precious gifts, now the market is rich with all kinds of creations such as cakes with lotus seeds, green tea, red beans... The cake boxes are designed delicately, becoming luxurious gifts, not just children's gifts.

Although Mid-Autumn Festival is now more colorful and modern, many people still look for traditional values. Folk toys such as star lanterns, papier-mâché masks, and figurines are still chosen by many parents for their children. Not only because of their unique craftsmanship, but also because they contain memories of their own childhood.

Teacher Nguyen Thi May said that what makes her happiest is seeing the children today know how to do, play and understand the old Mid-Autumn Festival. “When I tell them about the five-pointed star lanterns or how to cut paper to make masks, the children love it, everyone pays attention. I think that is the best way to preserve tradition by letting them do it and experience it.”

In fact, Mid-Autumn Festival is now not just limited to a night of feasting. Many localities in Hai Phong also organize lantern parades, lantern street decorations or folk cultural programs to arouse the spirit of community cohesion. Each activity is a way to preserve the beauty of Mid-Autumn Festival in modern life.

Many families still look for traditional Mid-Autumn toys.

Each generation has a different memory of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Some remember the peaceful moonlit nights in the village, others are fascinated by the sparkling lights of the city. But in the end, it is all about the joy of reunion, the moment when the whole family gathers together and shares feelings.

LINH LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ky-uc-trung-thu-xua-va-nay-522746.html