The dazzling colors of Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns

These days, as the streets light up, the festive atmosphere begins in Thac Ba commune. People bustle along the roads, the air filled with joyful songs: “Tung dinh dinh tung tung dinh dinh/ Here the joyful starlight shines far across the mountains/ Tung dinh dinh dinh dinh tung dinh dinh/ The starlight of Uncle Ho shines everywhere…”. Children sit on carts laden with lanterns, pushed by adults through the streets amidst cheers and shouts. The countryside along the Chay River is vibrant and dazzling. The Mid-Autumn Festival has begun!

It's called the Mid-Autumn Festival because it doesn't just last a few days, but the festive atmosphere extends for a whole month. The weather in autumn is much cooler and more pleasant. The sky is so clear and the moon is so round! Night after night, its gentle light spreads throughout the world, thus opening up the fairy tale of childhood about the beautiful Chang'e, about Cuoi sitting under the banyan tree...

That colorful world is conveyed through the lanterns: Lady Trung riding an elephant into battle, Saint Giong uprooting bamboo to fight the invaders, golden turtles, carp transforming into dragons, phoenixes, roosters, frogs sitting under lotus leaves, doves carrying hopes for peace … But most numerous are the dragon models, as this is a sacred animal in Vietnamese culture.

As soon as the moon rose, the main streets became bustling. Lines of brightly lit floats, in a multitude of colors, paraded along to the sound of lively music and the excited cheers of children. It wasn't just the children who were excited; the adults were equally thrilled. These lanterns were not only dazzling but also capable of dynamic movement. They were truly works of art.

The vibrant colors of the giant Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns not only illuminate the streets but also ignite joy in people's hearts. Everyone, from every household, takes to the streets to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere. The lively lion and dragon dances further enhance the festive spirit.

“Sometimes, the dragons would spray water and fire, which we found very exciting. I just wish these lantern processions could last forever,” said Bui Ngoc Quy from Hamlet 4, unable to hide her enthusiasm.

Quy's wish is also the wish of the children here. To create joyful evenings and bring happy smiles to the children, the villagers had been preparing for a whole month. Each lantern usually costs tens of millions of dong. "Small contributions add up," and all expenses were discussed and agreed upon by the villagers. In particular, many local businesses and production facilities readily donated large sums of money because everyone wanted to give the best to the future generation.

Then everyone gathered to brainstorm and create a lantern that was both unique, attractive, and educational . These people, usually busy with their daily struggles for survival, were now united by their love for children. The work was divided very efficiently. The women skillfully cut and pasted colored paper; the strong men handled the welding and frame-making; and the young people installed the lighting system to make the lantern even more vibrant. They were like true artisans.

“Every year, we start making lanterns early so that the children can have fun for a whole month, not just one or two nights. Seeing the children cheering and overjoyed at the sight of our village's lanterns makes all the hard work disappear. Joining in the children's atmosphere, we feel young again. This year, Lang Can village is bringing the 'Dragon Boat Lantern' made from pomelo,” said Pham Quang Giap, head of Lang Can village.

This year, Thac Ba commune will organize the "Mid-Autumn Festival for Children" Lantern Festival on October 3rd (the 12th day of the 8th lunar month). It is expected that 15 lantern models will participate. Education sometimes lies not only in textbook lessons but also in practical activities. These lanterns not only bring moments of joy and laughter but also enrich the world of childhood. Children will learn to love their homeland and country more; remember the contributions of their ancestors who built and defended the nation; appreciate the beautiful nature; and cherish traditional culture.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, besides the moon-gazing feast with sticky rice cakes, baked cakes, ripe red persimmons, or sweet pomelos, children in Thac Ba also have a joyful lantern procession. These will forever remain the most beautiful moonlit nights of their childhood memories.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lung-linh-sac-mau-den-trung-thu-post883061.html