 The Mid-Autumn Festival 2017 takes place at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi from September 28 to October 4, 2017. (Photo: dantri.com.vn) |
The 2017 mid-autumn festival will feature demonstrations of making moon cakes, masks, star-shaped lanterns, rabbit lanterns, glutinous rice figurines, paper doctors, and bamboo dragonfly.
Children will also see the drawings by Frenchman Henri Oger, who in the early 20th century researched city life in Vietnam’s northern region.
Based on photos from France’s Albert Kahn Museum, a display of toys typical of Hanoi’s mid-autumn festival in the early 20th century has been set up, using traditional materials.
Artisan Vu Van Sinh of Hanoi’s outlying Thanh Oai district, said: “My family’s folk toy making craft has been handed down from generation to generation. Folk toys, which are often made of simple materials using basic tools, reflect the rural culture. At mid-autumn festivals, I usually make star-shaped lanterns and carp-shaped lanterns. About 30 to 40 children used to parade star-shaped lanterns before gathering by the mid-autumn fruit tray. This is a beautiful childhood memory for many Vietnamese people.”
 Children make star-shaped lanterns with help from artisans and their parents. (Photo: dantri.com.vn) |
In the spacious open area of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, children will watch puppet shows and lion dances performed by the puppeteers of Te Tieu guild and Trieu Khuc village.
Traditional folk games have been revived to allow children to join in the celebration: carrying rice across a bamboo bridge, see-saws, boomerangs, wooden horses, a sack race, a tug of war, stick-and-ball, clay crackers, board games, and blindfolded drumming.
Duong Yen Thi, a third grader at Tran Quoc Toan Primary School in Hanoi, told VOV: “I’m thrilled to participate. I made folk toys with help from the artisans. Now I know more about the history of folk games.”
80-year-old artisan Nguyen Van Quyen has travelled miles from Thanh Oai district to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel to teach children how to make cylindrical lanterns.
 Children play cylindrical lanterns. (Photo: dantri.com.vn) |
Quyen said: “There are 2 types of cylindrical lanterns. In the past, a cylindrical lantern had either 4 or 6 sides. Now all have 6 sides. Making the lanterns can help children learn patience and increase their creativity.”
The organizers hope the festival will teach young people national values and make their nation’s history and culture.
Do Ngoc Yen, who works for the Thang Long - Ha Noi Heritage Preservation Centre, said: “This is the second time this program has been held at the Thang Lang Imperial Citadel. Children enjoy making glutinous rice figurines, paper fans, propellers, paper kites, lanterns, and paper doctors.”