Two letters from Uncle Ho and the first Mid-Autumn Festival of independence

NDO - On the first Mid-Autumn Festival after Independence Day, children received (up to) 2 letters from President Ho Chi Minh with infinite love, more than all the following Mid-Autumn Festivals. This was special but not surprising "because Uncle Ho loved them very much".

The Mid-Autumn Festival of the Year of the Rooster (1945) was very special because it was the first Mid-Autumn Festival after the nation regained independence. The Mid-Autumn Festival came when the terrible famine that swept through the Northern provinces at the beginning of the year still left its aftermath, and more than 90% of the population was illiterate. The work of building the “new Vietnam” had just begun and was very complicated.

Immediately after the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, despite having to deal with many urgent tasks, in just the first month of building the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh sent 3 letters to teenagers and children: Letter to students, Mid-Autumn Festival with independence, Letter to Vietnamese children on the occasion of the first Mid-Autumn Festival of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

This is a concentrated expression of his special concern for caring for and nurturing the young generation - the future of the revolution, the future of the country.

On September 15, 1945 (5 days before Mid-Autumn Festival), President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to children across the country with excitement and joy: "You are smiling happily, Uncle Ho also smiles happily with you".

He happily emphasized the great change in the history of the Vietnamese people and children are a part of it: “Last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, our country was still oppressed, and you were still child slaves. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, our country is free and you have become small citizens of an independent country.”

He wanted the children to study hard, first of all to learn the national language, and to help the revolution in the Children's Rescue Association. He hoped and believed that in the near future, the joy of the whole nation would be organized again [1] .

After the jubilant days of the historic August Revolution, along with the joy of the people of the entire capital, children in Hanoi were gathered in the National Salvation Children's Teams in the neighborhoods. They eagerly awaited the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year of the Rooster, not only by watching the moon, breaking the cake, carrying lanterns, and dancing with lions like the previous Mid-Autumns.

Under the guidance of the teachers, the children learned to salute the flag and sing the Marching Song, practice formation and sing revolutionary songs. The full moon of August is September 20. From the afternoon, the children gathered around Hoan Kiem Lake to play a mock battle against the invaders.

Children enjoy the first Mid-Autumn Festival of national independence.

At that time, our army did not have tanks, planes and modern weapons, but the children's dreams were limitless. The cardboard weapon models were cut and colored like the children's dream of a strong and independent country.

The invaders are symbolized by the model of a warship coming from the sea and being "repelled and sunk" by the "weapon" of determination to fight to protect independence.

Adults were also captivated by the joy of the children celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in the common happiness of the whole nation that had just regained independence and freedom. The children's Honor Guards were dressed neatly in uniform.

The song "Hurry up, children, follow the red flag with the yellow star..." - a song composed by musician Phong Nha in 1944 during the movement to resist Japan and save the country, leading to the General Uprising, mixed with the continuous drum beats, made people even more excited.

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL WITH INDEPENDENCE Dear children, Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. Mom has bought you lanterns, drums, firecrackers, flowers, and many other toys. You are happy, aren't you? The scene of the full moon, cool breeze, calm lake, and blue sky of Mid-Autumn Festival makes you laugh and smile happily. You laugh and smile happily, Uncle Ho also laughs and smiles happily with you. Guess why? One is because Uncle Ho loves you very much. Two is because last Mid-Autumn Festival, our country was still oppressed, you were still a bunch of child slaves. This Mid-Autumn Festival, our country has been free and you have become citizens of an independent country. Today, you can have fun to your heart's content, tomorrow I hope you will study hard, do you all know the national language yet? Those who don't know yet must learn. You must exercise diligently to keep your body in shape. And try your best to help the Children's Rescue Association (have you joined the Association yet? Those who haven't joined should join the Association for fun). Next year's Mid-Autumn Festival, we will organize a fun event, for both old and young. What do you think? This Mid-Autumn Festival, Uncle Ho has nothing to give you. He only sends you a hundred loving kisses. HO CHI MINH (Ho Chi Minh - Complete Works - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, volume 4, page 15)

On the first night of the Mid-Autumn Festival of Independence, President Ho Chi Minh once again sent a letter to children [2] . In the letter, he still kept the intimate way of addressing "children" without using the title of President.

On Mid-Autumn night, He wanted the children to have fun and unite, but tomorrow not to forget their duty to study and be obedient so that "in the future they will grow up to be worthy citizens of an independent and free country" [3] .

“Long live independent Vietnam!” will always be associated with “Happy Vietnamese children!”. That gradually became a reality from September 2, 1945. That was first affirmed from the night of welcoming the Mid-Autumn Moon under the golden stars of the children.

That sentiment, that wish followed the entire life of the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - He devoted his entire life to fighting for noble things for the Vietnamese people and for Vietnamese children.

LETTER TO VIETNAMESE CHILDREN ON THE FIRST MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM “Children, this is Ho Chi Minh talking to you. Today you are having fun, having fun in a united, organized way. That is very good. Today the Mid-Autumn Festival is for you. It is also a demonstration for you to show your patriotism and to support independence. You must be good, listen to your parents at home, study hard; be respectful to your friends. You must love our country. I hope that you will grow up to be citizens worthy of an independent and free country. Will you promise me that? I have nothing to give you, I can only bring each group a photo; the delegates will give it to you. Thank you! Kisses! Before you go to the feast happily, let's chant two slogans together: Happy Vietnamese children! Long live independent Vietnam! Hello children, HO CHI MINH " (Ho Chi Minh - Complete Works - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, volume 4, p. 26)

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[1] The National Salvation Newspaper published this letter in issue 45, published on September 17, 1945 - Ho Chi Minh - Complete Works - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, volume 4, p. 15

[2] Ho Chi Minh Biography Chronicle - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006, volume 3, p. 17

[3] The National Salvation Newspaper published this letter in issue 49, published on September 22, 1945 - Ho Chi Minh - Complete Works - National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, volume 4, p. 26

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