Many ways to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival of urban youth

Mid-Autumn Festival has long been not only a Children's Festival but also one of the festivals with a strong community color in Vietnam. In the context of modern society, when technology and global culture have a strong influence, young people still choose Mid-Autumn Festival as an occasion to find connection, both imbued with traditional breath and adding new colors.

Young people make traditional mid-autumn lanterns at mid-autumn festival decoration check-in points. Photo: Le Duy

Mid-Autumn Festival trend of young people

At a moon cake making workshop in Tam Hiep ward, the atmosphere was bustling from the first days of the eighth lunar month, more than 20 young people were engrossed in kneading dough, shaping the cake filling and sharing their processing experiences.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thao, a student at Dong Nai University, said: “I want to make the cake myself to fully experience the flavor. This not only brings joy but also helps me better understand the meaning of the cake in traditional culture.”

Not only do these workshops focus on personal experiences, they are also linked to charity activities. Specifically, on September 28, 179 Baker's Mart (located in Tam Hiep Ward) and its customers will carry out a program of making and giving moon cakes to 150 children, lonely elderly people and people with disabilities in the locality. This is not only an activity to share and spread the spirit of "one cake - one joy" but also contributes to making the Mid-Autumn Festival more meaningful and full of humanity.

The cultural values ​​of the Mid-Autumn Festival are not lost but are being reborn in a new way, more suitable to the modern lifestyle. It both preserves the ancient spirit and becomes an opportunity for young people to express their creativity and love for Vietnamese culture.

In addition, instead of making handmade lanterns like in workshops in Ho Chi Minh City, many young people in Dong Nai go to shops selling carp, star, and jade rabbit lanterns to buy them to decorate their living space or use in small parties with friends.

Mr. Trinh Hoang Nam (20 years old, living in Trang Dai ward) shared: "Holding the traditional paper carp lantern in my hand, I feel like I'm back to my childhood. Now, not only for carrying lanterns, many people also hang them in their rooms or use them as photo props, very interesting."

In addition to handicraft activities, many young people also choose to go out to the streets to "hunt" for the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere. Nguyen Ai Quoc Street (Dong Nai Province) on the days near the full moon of August has become a meeting place for many groups of friends to take photos. Booths selling modern lanterns or cafes bring a colorful Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere, from cartoon characters to glowing musical lights.

Some young people who come to lantern accessory stores at Bien Hoa market said: “My friends and I often go to the street or traditional market to decorate for the Mid-Autumn Festival to take pictures, both for fun and to have a commemorative photo album every Mid-Autumn Festival season. Although we know that traditional lanterns are beautiful and meaningful, modern models also bring a new feeling.”

Mid-Autumn Festival today is also an opportunity for young people to unleash their creativity and keep up with trends. Instead of just stopping at traditional activities, many people choose to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere through social networks. The trend of filming TikTok clips with carp lanterns, the challenge of "checking in with the full moon" or creating costumes in the colors of Mid-Autumn Festival has become a widely spread trend.

Traditional culture remains sustainable

Dr. Vo Nu Hanh Trang, Director of the Department of Scientific Research, Postgraduate and International Relations, Dong Nai University, shared: The fact that young people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in many different ways reflects the inevitable changes of modern society, but the positive thing is that they still turn towards core values. Through the survey, it can be seen that young people do not turn their backs on tradition. They only seek new ways to suit the current pace of life and needs for experience. Making cakes, making lanterns, or participating in folk art performances is proof that traditional culture has always been and still is attractive if presented in the right way.

Dr. Vo Nu Hanh Trang emphasized: “The creative activities of young people are an opportunity to bring folk culture closer to the community. It is necessary to encourage models that combine tradition and modernity; at the same time, there should be policies to support artisans and craft classes to create a playground for young people. If done well, the Mid-Autumn Festival will not only be a holiday but also a cultural bridge between generations.” From a social perspective, the Mid-Autumn Festival also contributes to nurturing the community spirit. Whether choosing a traditional or modern way to celebrate the festival, the common point is still the connection: families gather around a tray of food, friends carry lanterns together, or the whole community participates in the festival. This is the sustainable value that the Mid-Autumn Festival brings, surpassing any trend or fad.

It can be seen that the way young people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival today reflects the richness of choices, and is also a way to affirm cultural identity. In the age of technology, when electronic lights or modern games dominate, there are still many young people who patiently stick with moon cakes, handmade lanterns, and art.
traditional.

Le Duy

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202510/muon-kieu-don-trung-thu-cua-gioi-tre-do-thi-1ed01e3/