Travelling through villages across northern Vietnam for the last decade, photographer Le Bich has saved moments of his childhood. From a paper unicorn head made in Gao Village, Nam Dinh Province, a papier mache mask in Hang Than Street, Hanoi to star lantern and iron boat toy in Khuong Ha Village. All of these recreate a traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.
"People of my generation grew up with twinkling lanterns, fairy tales. I’m so happy when I relive my memories through those things. I can see myself as a boy in my photos. Society has changed so fast that children nowadays have no idea of those traditional toys", photographer Le Bich said.
Featured in Le Bich’s photo collections, 80-year-old artisan Nguyen Van Quyen has had over 60 years making lanterns. He is the only person in this village who still makes lanterns.
"In the past, parents instructed children to make toys or told children a story related to a kind of toy. For example, paper doctor toy reminds people of how scholars were respected by society. This toy encouraged children to learn hard. All toys have their educational meanings. If parents forget those meanings, they are at fault", artisan Nguyen Van Quyen said.
Children are always the focus of a Mid-Autumn Festival. This is a long-standing tradition of Vietnamese people. A Mid-Autumn feast will always have moon cakes and fruits of autumn.
"Mid-Autumn Festival is the time to pay tribute to the rice goddess and land goddess. So young glutinous rice and seasonal fruits are things that make the feast", Professor To Ngoc Thanh spoke.
This year, artisan Quyen has sold more than 100 lanterns. Although his children have not followed his job, he still has a hope that traditional Mid-Autumn Festival will be relived one day.
