Literary critic Pham Xuan Nguyen: Mid-Autumn Festival, don't let the moon be sad

Literary critic Pham Xuan Nguyen: In the past, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people felt in harmony with the earth and sky, everyone looked at the moon. Photo: Thanh Chung

PV: Sir, in the concept of Vietnamese people from the past to the present, what is Mid-Autumn Festival? And what is its meaning to human life?

Critic Pham Xuan Nguyen:Mid-Autumn Festivalabout itself is a holiday according to the calendar of agricultural economies growing wet rice that operate according to climate, weather, 4 seasons Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter. Farming always has idle times and Lunar New Year, Full MoonMid-Autumn Festivalare such idle days.

Mid-Autumn FestivalAs its name suggests, it is the time of mid-autumn. At this time, the weather is very nice, the sky is clear and cool, the full moon is very beautiful, the farming and harvesting are finished. People rest and enjoy the fruits of their labor, watch the moon, and appreciate the moon.

Vietnamese people love festivals, so the Mid-Autumn Festival suddenly became special, gradually becoming a holiday, a Tet with a feast. No one knows when Mid-Autumn Festival transformed into a children's holiday, but it is clear that it is now ingrained in the Vietnamese mind. On Mid-Autumn Festival, children are given star lanterns, masks, lanterns, figurines... by adults, are given moon cakes, sticky rice cakes, can dance and sing while admiring the moon, and can watch lion dances, dragon dances.

PV: How was the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in your North Central region in the past? Is the Mid-Autumn Festival today different from the past?

Mid-Autumn Festival in the old countryside. Illustration

The fathers and mothers of farmers in the countryside of the North Central region are very simple and rustic. When Mid-Autumn Festival comes, they prepare a feast for their children, which is flowers and fruits from their garden, persimmons, grapefruits, custard apples, bananas, etc. Children have a festive mentality, and it is very fun to gather together to enjoy the feast. Children are happy, and adults are happy too. They also call the children of their neighbors to come and enjoy the feast together. The fathers and mothers are happy to chat over a pot of tea, as the late musician An Thuyen once wrote, "Calling each other to enjoy the green tea."

In the past, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people felt in harmony with the earth and sky, and everyone looked at the moon. The scene of the old countryside on the Mid-Autumn night made me feel very peaceful. Nowadays, people still remember the Mid-Autumn Festival but they forget about the moon, especially in the city. People celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival for children but no one tells them to look up at the moon.

Thinking about it, I often read a folk song that talks about the sadness of the moon with this meaning: "You forgot to bring the moon into the house/The moon is sad, the moon must shine through other people's gardens". Every time Mid-Autumn Festival comes, I feel sad for the moon. Today's Mid-Autumn Festival has lost its harmony with nature, the earth and sky. The moon is sad, the moon is abandoned. Even in the countryside, it is the same.

PV: Besides the story of “The Abandoned Moon”, there are other sad stories such as many people “borrowing” Mid-Autumn Festival to give gifts in order to seek benefits... How do you view this issue?

Mid-Autumn Festival in the city is fun but no one tells children to look at the moon. Illustration photo

Mid-Autumn Festival still retains its old features in many places, but there are also many places that have deviations. I remember one year I celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival in Hue. I saw people organizing lion and dragon dances in every house. Each house hung red envelopes high for the lion and dragon to play with and take. Lion and dragon dances are very interesting, but when it involves money, it is not acceptable.

In Hanoi, there are still some families who make delicious Mid-Autumn cakes and candies. They keep their traditional profession, and their products are very sophisticated. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about these families now. And many people who know about them do not teach their children about the existence of such a profession and products.

PV: In modern life, children have to cram, then bury their heads in TVs, computers, phones... Are you worried about a future generation that is out of harmony with nature, and doesn't know how to behave with nature?

Critic Pham Xuan Nguyen: This problem is not only a concern of Vietnam but also a global concern. Many scientists and social activists have spoken out, pointing out: The growth of machines and technology to serve and expand human capabilities is now turning back to "kill" humans.

Carrying lanterns on Mid-Autumn Festival night is a good activity for children to escape from TV, phone and computer screens. Illustration photo

It is very dangerous for the future generation to spend all day in front of TV, computers, and phones. Biologically, the radiation and magnetic fields will penetrate the body more, affecting health. Mentally, the emotions and souls are completely dependent.

A simple example is the impact of memory loss. In the past, we were forced to remember. Now, whenever we encounter something, we use an application to search for information. Children no longer try to remember and think independently, they look up everything. From then on, children gradually lose the ability to connect between individuals; between people and the community. This is a big concern.

I once tried this when I organized a group of friends to go out together. The rule was that everyone had to leave their phones at home. However, everyone jumped up and disagreed... We need to remember that phones have only been in our lives for 10-20 years. Before, we could go out without phones; we could still communicate with each other, so what?

There is currently a debate about whether students should be allowed to use mobile phones. From a scientific and technical point of view, it is possible because it is beneficial. But we have to manage it. If every student has a smartphone now, society will be in chaos.

PV: In your opinion, what should we do to help children live in harmony with nature and escape the negative impacts of modern life?

Parents are role models for their children, closeness to nature needs to start with educational awareness. Illustration photo

I remember: My daughter was in her final years of high school. I wanted to buy her a phone but my wife stopped me and said, “You’re not old enough to use it yet”… In this regard, I think it’s true. With the unwanted effects of phones, we can completely “package” them under the headings “15+”, “18+”, which age is allowed to use them, which age is not.

Another very important thing is: If parents are exemplary, then their children will have a basis to follow. When they get home, after a meal, if the father and mother each have their own phone and do not talk to each other, how can they instruct their children? Similarly, at school, the teacher is teaching but his phone rings and then he answers the phone. This is also inappropriate. The school and teachers must thoroughly enforce the rule that phones must be turned off when entering the classroom.

However, for example, with the same phone at school, teachers can turn negative into positive by setting an example: "I also use my phone, but I have to turn it off in class to focus on teaching you." Teachers can also proactively create a Group on social networks with the participation of the whole class. When there is a good lesson, teachers can share it with students; create a common topic for all students to participate.

Nature always has good lessons for children. Illustration photo

Back to the issue of getting people in general and children closer to nature, we must create a trend of being closer to nature. And there is nothing better than education from a family perspective. Parents need to bring their children back to nature and the wild. Bringing children to ecological areas is good, but those are artificial, arranged, and modified natural values; so parents should bring their children to completely natural values.

PV: Thank you!