Enjoying the full-moon

From September 25, the Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board hung carp lanterns, held Mid-Autumn Festival activities at Heritage House (No. 87 Ma May street), decorated the traditional mid-autumn festival space at Kim Ngan communal house (No. 42, 44 Hang Bac street) and at the Heritage Information Center (28 Hang Buom Street)... The opening event of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Hanoi Old Quarters kicked start a series of interesting activities to welcome the festival at many places, to honor and promote the cultural heritage of the area.

The artist teaches children to make traditional Mid-Autumn toys at the Heritage House. Photo: Linh Anh

Due to the impact of the Covid-19, many parents hesitate to bring their kids to public places but they can still experience the festive atmosphere via facebook fanpage of "Hanoi Old Quarter" to see artisans instructing them on how to make traditional toys, according to the management board. The activities in the old town last until October 1.

In order to create a folk culture space during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hanoi Book Street has organized many traditional activities at "Full Moon Book Festival" on September 26 and 27. The highlight activity of the event is the story told through pictures and decorative images in the central square of Book Street with the theme of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the old and modern time, showing the culture and lifestyle of Hanoi and Vietnamese people.

Coming to Hanoi Book Street these days, kids are offered a wide variety of are books, with promotions up to 50 percent. They can also participate in mini-games and the program "Magic Book Wish" to get lucky gifts in the Mid-Autumn Festival 2020. The event lasts until the end of October 1.

In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 activity also takes place at the Centre for Cultural and Art Exhibition of Vietnam and at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. All activities aim to honor traditional values.

Meaningful festival

Organizing the Mid-Autumn Festival to express the core values of the traditional full moon night and meeting the creativity and enjoyment needs of children is what to the organizers expect.

In the old time, the traditional Mid-Autumn, especially in many rural areas, was attached to the image of children eagerly waiting for toys that their parents bought home from the village’s market or made by themselves from natural material. Other families could make mid-autumn cakes. In the eve of the full-moon, children enjoyed watching the moon, savoring the food and playing toys.

Nowadays, opening up traditional Mid-Autumn spaces at cultural sites and encouraging the reintroduction of traditional food and toys are a meaningful way to celebrate the festival and keep the tradition.