In the cozy little house in the center of Lao Cai ward, the Mid-Autumn atmosphere seemed to be rushing in. Three generations of Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Viet Duyet's family gathered together, their laughter and chatter warming the whole room. The children ran around, holding modern electric lanterns with sparkling lights, and the traditional, rustic yet familiar colored paper star lanterns, all blending together to create a lively Mid-Autumn picture.
On the family’s familiar wooden table, the Mid-Autumn Festival tray is delicately arranged, both modern and traditional. Moon cakes with new flavors are placed next to candies, snacks, and milk - familiar gifts for children. Indispensable are the plate of plump grapefruit, bunch of bright yellow bananas, red dragon fruit, plump purple grapes, pomegranates, and tangerines - rustic gifts that have accompanied many generations, reminding us of the warm reunion trays of the past.
Seeing her granddaughter happily showing off her electronic lantern that played lively music, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung smiled, her eyes shining with nostalgia: In the past, we children did not have colorful flashing lanterns like this. Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns were made by our parents or by ourselves: cutting bamboo, whittling strips, pasting each piece of translucent paper, and then placing small candles inside. On the full moon night, all the children in the neighborhood gathered to carry the lanterns around the village, singing as they walked. A simple but innocent joy, which we could never forget when we grew up.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Duyet continued, his voice warm, his eyes shining with nostalgia: Back then, the family's Mid-Autumn Festival tray was very simple, only having a grapefruit, mooncakes, and sticky rice cakes made by the cooperative. Yet the whole family and the whole neighborhood still looked forward to it every day. Children eagerly waited for the time to break the tray, and adults gathered around a pot of green tea, sipping and telling stories. Not much material, but full of human love, that warm connection, thinking back now still makes me feel nostalgic.
In contrast to the simple memories of grandparents, Mid-Autumn Festival now appears in the eyes of children with a myriad of brilliant colors. Little Nguyen Thi Tuong Vy, her eyes sparkling, innocently raised the star lantern wrapped in colored paper in her hand and said: I like this star lantern very much, just like grandma told me in the past. I want to carry the lantern around the street with my friends.
Meanwhile, little Pham Nhat Minh Chau showed off an electronic lamp that plays music and has bright flashing lights: I like this lamp because it lights up everywhere it goes, and it also has music, it's so much fun to listen to.
Listening to the children chattering, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, the daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Duyet, smiled slightly: Now the Mid-Autumn Festival is much more abundant, children have all kinds of cakes, lanterns and modern games. But in the family feast, I still keep a part of tradition - there must be grapefruit, a bunch of yellow bananas... The most important thing is the moment when the whole family sits together, so that the children understand that the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only about feasting but also a festival of reunion and gathering.
In the small, warm house, grandparents slowly told their grandchildren stories of the past - when the candle-lit star lanterns twinkled around the communal house yard, blending with the bustling drum beats of the festival night. Parents reminisced about the joy of their childhood, the first time they held a box of fragrant moon cakes.
Mr. Duyet slowly shared: Mid-Autumn Festival today is different from the past, more modern and full. But for me, the greatest meaning is still the reunion. Children and grandchildren now have many joys and many choices, but the most precious thing is to still maintain the spirit of the reunion festival - to make the generations in the family more connected.
Mid-Autumn Festival has changed over time, but its core values remain unchanged: reunion, sharing and connection. While grandparents carry memories of a simple Mid-Autumn Festival, their children and grandchildren have new and rich experiences. What the two generations have in common is the happiness of gathering together and sharing a feast under the full moon.
In today's modern life, preserving the traditional beauty of Mid-Autumn Festival is the way to pass on good cultural values to the next generation. Because Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a childhood joy, but also a bond that connects families and is a testament to the cultural continuity from the past to the present.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-truyen-thong-trong-nhip-song-hien-dai-post883747.html
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