Why is the star lantern a "timeless" toy for the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Star lantern - a familiar toy during the Mid-Autumn Festival

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets are filled with colorful star lanterns hanging in front of houses or sold in shops. Made from familiar materials such as bamboo and cellophane, under the skillful hands of artisans, the brilliant five-pointed star has become an image associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival of Vietnamese people.

Star lanterns are a familiar toy during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Photo: Trinh Nguyen).

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thanh - an artisan with more than 30 years of experience in the lantern making craft in Phu Binh lantern village (HCMC) - said that star lanterns are not too sophisticated, but are associated with the childhood of many generations.

"My family moved from the North to the South in 1954. My parents told me that Mid-Autumn Festival in the North at that time was almost exclusively star lanterns. People made use of what was available such as bamboo, cellophane, steel wire... to create a lantern shaped like a brilliant five-pointed star.

Up to now, star lanterns have been innovated to suit tastes, but the main change is in the decoration, while the traditional style is still kept intact," he said.

Mr. Thanh said that to make a complete star lantern, the craftsman must go through many stages. Bamboo is shaved and bent into a frame of 10 long bars and 5 short bars to act as support bars.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thanh - lantern painter in Phu Binh lantern making village (Photo: Hoang Thu).

The lantern frame is fixed with thin steel wire, covered with pre-cut cellophane, then glued. Finally, the decoration is done with vivid patterns, writings or motifs. On average, it takes the artisan about 3 hours to complete a product.

"Even though there were years when this profession faced difficulties because of imported lamps, we never stopped making star lanterns," said Mr. Thanh.

According to the reporter's records at Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street (HCMC), the price of star lanterns ranges from 20,000 to 55,000 VND depending on the size. Large lanterns with elaborate decorations cost more.

Ms. Yen (born in 1977) - a merchant here - said that among the myriad of plastic and electronic lantern models, paper star lanterns are still an indispensable item during the annual Mid-Autumn Festival.

Luong Nhu Hoc lantern street was bustling with many people, especially young people coming to check in (Photo: Khoa Nguyen).

According to her, customers who buy star lanterns are quite diverse. Young people often choose lanterns with colorful patterns to take pictures, while adults prefer simple designs that retain traditional features.

"Nowadays, most star lanterns have flashing lights for convenience, but if you want, buyers can still light candles inside like the old way," she said.

It can be seen that the star lantern still maintains the enduring vitality of a handmade product in the face of the wave of industrialization of children's toys. Many parents today, even though they can buy modern lanterns for their children, still try to buy a star lantern so that their children can experience the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.

Small toys have great value in cultural life.

In the memories of many generations, especially in the years when there were not many industrial toys, the bamboo lantern wrapped in shiny paper was a gift that children awaited all year long. Children excitedly carried the lantern around the neighborhood to the sound of drums, singing and sparkling stars.

Nowadays, many schools and organizations still maintain the star lantern procession movement, considering it a way to educate students about folk culture. Some experience tours in Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City also organize star lantern making activities, attracting international tourists.

Traders say star lanterns always retain their appeal during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Photo: Hoang Thu).

Mr. Nguyen Hieu Tin - Head of Tourism Department, Ton Duc Thang University - commented: "Human concerns, even if metaphysical, are also a form of cultural creation. Before humans set foot on the moon, Vietnamese people were attached to the image of the moon, Hang and Cuoi. Since then, the moon has become a familiar cultural symbol."

Mr. Tin believes that in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, the image of a star both evokes light and is associated with the five-pointed star on the sacred flag of the Fatherland. This image also symbolizes faith, unity, and aspiration for a bright, lucky and successful future.

"On a broader level, star lanterns are a living testament to the durability of folk culture. From bamboo, cellophane and skillful hands, Vietnamese people have created a simple product rich in aesthetic and humanistic values.

It is not only a toy for children but also a collective memory, recalling childhood, neighborhood love and the light of reunion under the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival," said Mr. Tin.

According to Mr. Tin, from a cultural perspective, the star lantern clearly reflects the community spirit and the joy of reunion. Although the market is flooded with new toys, star lanterns are still innovated to suit tastes.

Many artisans also create new designs, combining traditional patterns with youthful colors to suit the needs of today's people.

Nowadays, star lanterns are created in a variety of ways (Photo: Hoang Thu).

Although children today prefer technological products or cartoon characters, star lanterns are still present as an indispensable default during the full moon season - a spiritual symbol that goes hand in hand with modern life.

Mr. Tin emphasized: "The special value of star lanterns lies in their cultural symbolism. When adults give children a star lantern, it is not just giving a toy but also giving memories, traditions and emotions."

Hoang Thu

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/doi-song/vi-sao-chiec-den-ong-sao-la-mon-do-choi-khong-loi-mot-dip-trung-thu-20250917144606419.htm