Unique Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns in Dongxing

For decades, as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, people in several communes in Dong Hung district have come together to "show off their talent" by creating giant lanterns with unique shapes and vibrant colors, unlike anything else in Thai Binh province. On the 12th and 13th of the 8th lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, themed "Lanterns Lighting Up Dreams," will be organized by these communes to bring children a Mid-Autumn Festival filled with love.

Let's work together to make a giant lantern.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion for every family and society as a whole to show their care and give children the best. Therefore, for decades, every Mid-Autumn Festival, the Party committees, government, organizations, and people of Dong Hoang, Dong Quan, Dong Dong, Dong Phuong communes, etc., have mobilized tens of millions of dong and labor days to make giant lanterns for children to enjoy during the festival.

Mr. Pham Cong Luan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Hoang commune, shared: Dong Hoang is the first commune in the district to make oversized lanterns, and it has been enthusiastically supported by the entire community, with the core force being veterans, the elderly, young people, and women... In the first year, the whole commune only made 4-5 lanterns that were 2-3 times larger than real objects and animals, with wooden frames. Children from the hometown were impressed when they returned home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and since then, as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, many people send money to support the making of more large and beautiful lanterns with stainless steel frames. The commune organized a competition, judging and awarding prizes to lanterns with high aesthetic value, good brightness, and meaningful messages to encourage villages to maintain and develop the movement of making giant lanterns such as military aircraft, 10m long dragons, 7m long carp, 2.2m high and 1.5m wide rotating lanterns, and star lanterns 8-10 times larger than small handheld lanterns... This year's Mid-Autumn Festival saw the entire commune make over 50 lantern models of various sizes, nearly 20 more than last year, with the tallest lantern costing approximately 50 million VND, and the others ranging from 5-10 million VND per model; in addition, there were nearly 1,000 small handheld lanterns.

To date, Chau Giang village in Dong Quan commune has completed 25 lantern models, an increase of 5 models compared to 2023, ready for the vibrant and colorful lantern procession on the evening of the 12th day of the 8th lunar month. This village has many large and beautiful lanterns. Each year, over 100 million VND is raised through donations for the Mid-Autumn Festival for children, with over 60 million VND specifically for lantern making. Some people donate 10-20 million VND, and many others contribute dozens of days of labor.

Mr. Bui Thanh Binh, from Chau Giang village, Dong Quan commune, said: "Every year I donate money and participate in the work with everyone for more than a month. No one tells us what to do; whoever is free comes to help, whoever knows how to do it does it. Everyone lends a hand, gradually completing dozens of lantern models. Seeing the children happy makes us happy too, and we forget all the fatigue."

The giant lanterns of Dong Hoang commune.

Eagerly awaiting the Mid-Autumn Festival

Although the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern procession hasn't officially begun, the festive atmosphere has already permeated the villages. The most vibrant and lively scene is in Dong Hoang and Dong Quan communes, with nearly 100 unique, giant, and dazzling lanterns attracting everyone from the elderly to the young. Besides traditional lanterns like the "marching army" lantern, star-shaped lantern, and carp lantern, the communes also create lanterns depicting animals from the 12 zodiac signs, characters from fairy tales, and the labor activities of the past. This enriching playground for children to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival has been maintained for many years, spreading to other communes such as Dong Dong, Dong A, and Dong Phuong...

Five-year-old Dao Le Phuong Anh from Dong Hoang commune said: "I really love the Mid-Autumn Festival. Every night, my sister and I go to dance and sing together, and watch the adults making lanterns. We look forward to the evening of the 13th of August in the lunar calendar so we can carry our lanterns through the streets." Meanwhile, Le Ngoc Khanh, a fourth-grade student at Dong Phong Primary School in Dong Quan commune, not only watched the lantern-making but also helped with some light tasks. She shared: "We are very happy and grateful to the adults who have worked so hard to make these beautiful, colorful lanterns. Looking at the lanterns reminds me of historical figures and stories I've learned. I'm very excited because on the evening of the 12th of August in the lunar calendar, I'll be able to join my friends in the Mid-Autumn lantern procession, accompanied by lively music, through the countryside."

Following this year's Mid-Autumn Festival theme, "Lanterns Lighting Up Dreams," the youth unions in the communes have advised the Party committees and local authorities to develop plans for organizing the festival with many rich and attractive activities.

According to Mr. Phi Van Hiep, Secretary of the Youth Union of Dong Hoang commune: "The entire commune has over 600 children and teenagers. To ensure they have a Mid-Autumn Festival filled with love, the commune's Youth Union mobilized 300 cadres, union members, and young people to teach performing arts, team rituals, build Mid-Autumn camps, make lanterns, organize a lantern parade, and provide a communal meal for the children and teenagers. 1,000 handheld lanterns and 50 lantern models of various sizes will be paraded throughout the commune during the lantern parade night, accompanied by cheerful music. The highlight attracting thousands of participants to the Mid-Autumn Festival night is the parade on Highway 39, running through Dong Hoang and Dong Quan communes. The Mid-Autumn lantern models are dynamically designed, blending traditional and modern elements, and are beautifully decorated, adorned with the national flag and portraits of President Ho Chi Minh." Meaningful messages on the lanterns include Mid-Autumn Festival reunion, Mid-Autumn Festival bonding, Mid-Autumn Festival love, fun with children, Mid-Autumn Festival sharing... Joining the lantern procession are lion dance troupes, folk dance groups, and military drum ensembles, creating excitement for both children and adults.

Mr. Dang Thanh Nam from Dong Tan commune said: "Previously, I only saw giant Mid-Autumn lantern parades in Tuyen Quang, but in recent years, they have appeared in Dong Hoang and Dong Quan. Every year, I take my grandchildren there to see them. The lantern models there are truly impressive and have an educational value, helping children preserve the traditional values of the Mid-Autumn Festival."