Memories in the heart of the city from Mid-Autumn Festival folk toys

(Baohatinh.vn) - Amidst the glittering electric lights, the sound of technological music and the hustle and bustle of life, traditional Mid-Autumn Festival toys still quietly retain their traditional beauty on the streets of Ha Tinh.

Amid the mild early autumn weather of Ha Tinh , central streets such as Phan Dinh Phung, Nguyen Huy Tu, Hai Thuong Lan Ong... begin to put on the brilliant coat of "moon season". On both sides of the street, stalls display all kinds of star lanterns, lanterns, hand drums... creating a picture full of traditional Mid-Autumn colors.

Each roadside stall displays traditional toys such as: star lanterns, drums, Ong Dia masks, papier-mâché lion heads, and lanterns...

Children flocked to the colorful lantern stalls, banging drums and holding up funny papier-mâché masks. The sound of hand drums, children's laughter and calls to each other to buy lanterns brought the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere very close.

Modern Mid-Autumn lanterns can light up, flash, run on batteries and play music, but traditional lanterns light up with... memories. Five-pointed star lanterns made from thinly shaved bamboo and covered with red, yellow and green cellophane are still the choice of many people in Ha Tinh.

“I prioritize letting my children choose traditional toys such as star lanterns, hand drums, and papier-mâché masks. The Mid-Autumn Festival only happens once a year. If I don’t teach my children about the traditional meaning now, they will think that the Mid-Autumn Festival is just an occasion to give gifts and eat cakes,” said Nguyen Phan Cam Mai, a resident of Cam Binh commune.

In big stores, drums, lion heads and lanterns are popular items. Many families buy them for their children to practice lion dancing, many schools also order them to organize lantern parades and party parties for students. Paper mache masks of Ong Dia, Chu Teu, and Chu Cuoi with traditional designs and unique hand-painted lines are also very popular. These products cost from 20,000 to 100,000 VND/piece for regular ones and nearly a million VND for meticulously crafted ones.





The streets selling Mid-Autumn Festival items in Ha Tinh start to bustle from the end of the seventh lunar month, but it is not until the week before the full moon that the atmosphere really becomes vibrant. "Around the middle of the seventh lunar month, I started placing orders to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year, I prioritize choosing traditional toys such as star lanterns, drums, papier-mâché masks, paper lion heads... which are handmade, ensuring safety for children. In recent days, the number of customers has increased 3-4 times compared to normal days. Many parents bring their children to choose lanterns, masks... especially items that remind them of the old Mid-Autumn Festival," said Ms. Pham Hong Van - owner of a decoration store in Thanh Sen ward.

When the moon rises, lanterns are lit, the soft light shines on the faces of children. Without the need for loudspeakers or stages, the neighborhoods themselves become miniature folk stages, where children can transform into fairy tale characters. That atmosphere reminds people of their roots, of the simplicity and depth of Vietnamese culture.

"I took my child to choose lanterns, go out into the street, and join the crowd so he could see how beautiful the Mid-Autumn Festival is," said Ms. Phan Nhu Quynh from Thanh Sen ward.

Amidst the glittering lights, the sounds of technology and the hustle and bustle of life, traditional Mid-Autumn toys still quietly retain their traditional beauty. The stalls selling traditional toys and the sounds of hand drums echoing in the middle of the city are lighting up a Mid-Autumn full of memories, both old and familiar.

Video : Colorful folk toys cover the streets of Ha Tinh.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/mien-ky-uc-giua-long-pho-thi-tu-do-choi-dan-gian-trung-thu-post296184.html