Vietnamese Children Festival

Outside, it’s pouring rain, and the autumn rain is accompanied by a chilly wind. Just yesterday, it was still warm in October, a departure from the usual fall weather in Toronto this year. Overnight, the morning chill set in. The Mid-Autumn Festival, the full moon of the eighth month, passed more than a week ago. If it weren’t for today’s celebration, no one might even know when the Mid-Autumn Festival had arrived.

Today, a Sunday, I usually sleep in, but today, I had to wake up early to get ready. Going to the Mid-Autumn Festival with the children, a festival that had been absent for the past three years due to the pandemic.

Some places have been celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival for many days, but today, the Vietnamese Women’s Association of Toronto is organizing it. This association is made up of mothers, women who juggle household chores with social responsibilities. Only when you really pay attention do you realize how challenging community work can be! And the organizers, do they even have any youth left? It seems like everyone is grandparents or great-grandparents.

Entering the hall, the Mid-Autumn Festival of old comes rushing back to me. The star lanterns that I haven’t seen for a long time, most lanterns nowadays resemble Chinese lanterns sold everywhere. In my childhood, we had lanterns shaped like moon cakes, star lanterns, or fish lanterns… The moon season of my childhood, of lantern parades, and sweet treats, going around the village under the moonlight.

In the hallway of the hall, I walk along a row of long tables with many games organized by volunteer students: here, the children are making various lanterns, there, they are blowing up balloon animals, and here is the food and drink table, a place never lacking in any festival. The mothers’ association, always attentive. Next is the bingo game, where the children get to play and learn Vietnamese at the same time. They seem thrilled every time they win because they get to receive prizes. Another place, equally attractive, is where the children play with a type of dough with many colors.

The hall is lively with decorations, test runs of sound, and various things for the festival.

The opening ceremony has arrived, and the hall is packed. Grandparents, parents, and the children are all dressed up in colorful ao dai outfits, looking very cute. In the solemn atmosphere, the national anthem never fails to move me, and I quietly sing along.

After the formal part, there was the opening speech by Ms. Kim Bao, the head of the organizing committee, followed by the introduction by Ms. Binh Minh, the president of the Vietnamese Women’s Association of Toronto, and the Mid-Autumn Festival activities began.

The lively drumming of the lion dance troupe, an essential activity, brought the festive atmosphere to life.

The program started with the skit “Chu Cuoi and the Banyan Tree.” Looking at the children in this skit, I couldn’t help but wonder how much they must yearn for their cultural roots. The performances by the children from the Vietnamese Youth Cultural Troupe with traditional musical instruments like the zither and monochord were greeted with continuous applause. The performances showed the dedication of parents in caring for their children. The dual-language presentation by the two MCs led the guests from one performance to another, which was quite charming. Within the program, there were also performances by the local community, including the Korean and Filipino communities. Fun and colorful performances. Thanks to the local community, the children’s Mid-Autumn Festival this year was richer.

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival also had the honor of hosting Mr. Stephen Lecce, the Minister of Education of the Province of Ontario. Looking at the Minister taking photos, giving lanterns, and shaking hands with the children in a friendly manner, I truly felt how inclusive the education system of this country is.

To encourage the children to wear traditional clothing, the Mid-Autumn Festival program included an ao dai costume contest. Looking at the children in their colorful ao dai outfits, the organizers couldn’t rank them; the children were just too cute! So they asked for permission from the guests to choose symbolic figures and distribute gifts. This image will probably remain in the memories of these children in the future, just like the Mid-Autumn Festival in our time.

The sound of the lion dance troupe’s drums rang out once again, followed by a long line of children holding hands with their mothers in the lantern parade around the hall, singing the song “Mid-Autumn Festival, I carry my lantern to play…” The ceremony ended.

Despite the pouring rain and chilly wind outside, everyone left with joy. The Canadian autumn has truly begun…

BB Nguyen