With a series of programmes “My childhood’s memories” to be held, Myhanoi club has introduced to the community a folk games experience space at public sites, which has made contribution to awakening, upholding and spreading the traditional cultural values.
“Selling betel and areca means girl’s shop
Selling cake and fruit means old ladies’
Selling incense and flower is Buddhist worship’s”
With children’s piece of song about a checker board folk game, fans’ exciting applause in support of the teams playing a tug of war, regular beats of the ball rebound in the game of ball tossing and stick picking, peal of laughter in the games of hopscotch or jumping over the elastic string,.. that all have reminisced of the familiar images and sounds of the past folk games in the middle of modern streets. On every weekend ‘s Sunday, from 16 t0 19.00pm, around Ly Thai To monument’s area by the Sword Lake (Ho Guom), it becomes much more crowded and busier as Hanoians have flocked here to experience and enjoy folk games under the project of “My childhood’s memories” organized by the youths of MyHanoi club. “My childhood’s memories” was officially launched in conjuntion with the solar calendar Tet 2016 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and the Binh Than Spring Mart at Giang Vo Exhibition and Fair Centre. With the hope of building fixed playgrounds, developing them into strong movements, starting from April 2016, MyHanoi will continue introducing the traditional games to other public areas in Ha Noi.
Youngsters interested in playing the checkerboard folk game
In the cultural treasure of Viet Nam, folk game is a unique type containing itself the national identity, which has been transmitted through generations. Nowadays, in the epoch of technology, computer and internet as well as electronics games, children are gradually losing opportunities to gain access to the folk games. The finenesses of the traditional games attached to their childhoods are fading and neglected not only in cities, but also in rural areas – whereby urbanization is rapidly underway. Bringing kids back to traditional games and toys, awakening them with love for the country by way of wholesome and useful experiences are the motto followed by MyHanoi club. Acutally, there are kids who for the first time knowing and playing such games as the checkerboard winning, follow-my-leader, seem quite interested to listen to children’s songs with pleasant-to-ear rhymths. There are many others who, already heard and known, but when coming to the playground, have started to see with their own eyes and then mingled themselves in playing with the folk games together with their parents and friends.
Likewise their children and grandchildren when being at the playgrounds, grand parents as well as parents apprear to be going back to their own childhoods with familiar toys and games. There are parents who frequently bring their childen here during weekends, just to teach and play with them. Groups of young friends together try the collective sport games as tug of war, string jumping in team. Lots of foreign tourists, during their visit itinerary, have also passed by here due to its appeals and uniqueness of Viet Nam’s folk. They attentively listen to the club’s volunteers to narrate and introduce how to play games, and are excited to join with the locals and not forgetting to save their memorable images and moments.
MyHanoi with the programme “I learn how to be a craftsman”
Next to Ly Thai To monument’s playground, the programme continues to be held at Le Nin monument’s area, Ly Tu Trong’s public garden and Dong Da Cultural Park. Furthermore, MyHanoi club will incorporate guiding activities to make folk toys i.e bamboo dragonfly, paper fan, cardboard mask and kneading coloured dough into paste animals. In the time to come, the club will further study and develop folk games of various regions to enrich the activities..
Amid the hasty and busy living tempo, Ha Noi people come to visit the playgrounds and to experience the traditional games, just to find a peaceful corner in their minds and seemingly to return to the fine memories in their childhoods.
Thu Trang