The market for birthday paintings is bustling.

(Baonghean.vn) - At the beginning of spring, longevity celebrations (longevity feasts) are held enthusiastically throughout the villages and communes of Yen Thanh district (Nghe An province). Consequently, the market for longevity paintings is also very lively. Many shops have made a considerable amount of money during the New Year season.

Bustling crowds of customers come to buy paintings to celebrate longevity.

In Yen Thanh district town, there are more than 10 shops selling longevity celebration paintings. Each shop is bustling with customers buying them to give as gifts to elderly relatives. The types of longevity celebration paintings are very diverse in terms of materials, sizes, colors, and content. The price of the paintings depends on the material and size. Paintings on glass or acrylic cost 150,000 - 500,000 VND/piece, while lacquer paintings or mother-of-pearl inlaid paintings cost 1 million - 2 million VND/piece.

Longevity paintings mainly depict people, objects, and landscapes symbolizing longevity, such as immortal beings, peaches, and pine trees symbolizing longevity. However, all paintings cannot be without the character for "Longevity," or the combination of "Happiness," "Prosperity," "Longevity," and "Eternal Life." Some inlaid wooden paintings or 3D silver-leaf paintings cost from 2 to 5 million VND per piece. In addition, these shops also sell longevity-themed clothing and headwear for elderly people attending longevity celebrations.

Longevity paintings featuring images representing Happiness, Prosperity, and Longevity.

Mr. Nguyen Tan, from Phuc Thanh commune, who was buying longevity paintings, said: "This year, my family is celebrating my parents' longevity. We wanted to bring joy to them, so we agreed to buy longevity paintings to congratulate them on reaching a long and healthy age. I think they will be very happy to receive these longevity paintings from their children and grandchildren."

According to Mr. Trinh, the owner of the largest shop selling longevity paintings in Yen Thanh town, these items are all imported from Nam Dinh and Hanoi. During this time, he has to mobilize all seven of his children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, and sons-in-law to help sell because of the large number of customers since Tet (Lunar New Year) and expected to continue until the 15th day of the first lunar month. Mr. Trinh said that during this period he also earns tens of millions of dong from selling longevity paintings.

Not only in the town but also in the villages, paintings celebrating longevity are sold everywhere. Some people even take advantage of the opportunity to buy paintings to sell during Tet (Lunar New Year).

These shops both manufacture and sell goods.

It is known that, "as scheduled," the grand feast for the elderly in Yen Thanh is held every three years. In the early days of the Spring of the Year of the Rooster, the younger generations and villages throughout the district are bustling with activity organizing this grand feast for the elderly. This is a beautiful traditional cultural practice that demonstrates the respect and reverence of the younger generation for their elders.

Tien Dung