Mid-Autumn Festival, talking about the unicorn

The ancients described the unicorn as a deformed animal, nearly 1.5m long, with a dragon-like head, a big nose, a wide mouth, a curved horn on the top of its head, and a beast-like body, with legs like a horse! Based on the description, people created a unicorn with a head and tail about 4 - 5m long. The way the unicorn dances is almost similar to the playful movements of animals, but the special thing is that it is accompanied by the rhythm of drums and percussion instruments such as gongs and cymbals. Whenever there is a unicorn, there must be a Earth.

According to old books, Mr. Dia was a local official, he was very gentle and cheerful, so he was loved by the people around the area. He was a bit short with a big belly, bright eyes on a round face without any dark spots and lips that were always red with a bright smile. He raised a unicorn and took it with him wherever he went, on the unicorn's back he let it carry wine, meat, inkstone, pen, paper, ink and a few other items. In their free time, he and the unicorn often danced together to relax, and later to entertain the people. Perhaps from this legend, people gradually came up with the way to dance the unicorn every time there was a festival, a funeral... and especially the Mid-Autumn Festival, the traditional New Year of the nation. People were creative by transforming the unicorn into lines on its entire shape with cheerful colors according to the preferences and creativity of the artisans. In addition, the harmonious combination of drums, gongs and lion dance art is equally important. Every time the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year come, lion dance appears. When the lion comes to someone's house, it is to drive away evil spirits, bad luck... and bring joy and luck to that house.

A lion dance troupe is usually very large with gongs, drums, cymbals, spears, swords, spears, flags, etc. There is also a leader, deputy leader, martial artists and people who are well-trained in lion dance, doing supporting work for the troupe. When the lion dance troupe is about to perform at a family, the deputy leader must enter that family first and bring a tray of betel and wine to place in the middle of the house, containing many red papers with wishes such as: Happiness - Prosperity - Longevity, Van Phu - Van Quy, Cung Chuc Tan Xuan... After congratulating the homeowner and the whole family, the deputy leader will receive a red envelope and then go out to signal the lion dance troupe to start dancing. The length of the dance, the amount of martial arts performed, all depend on the direction of the deputy leader.

The image of the unicorn has been deeply imprinted in the souls of children and the Vietnamese people, a pure symbol of a beautiful new life, warmth, and happiness for every family.

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