On the annual Mid-Autumn Festival night, children eagerly carry Mid-Autumn masks, hold star-shaped lanterns and join the bustling crowd to watch lion dances, eat candy, and play together under the moonlight. The Mid-Autumn mask and the star lantern are two indispensable toys for children during this festival. How many types of Mid-Autumn masks are there? How do papier-mâché masks differ from other masks on the market?
How many types of Mid-Autumn masks are on the market?
The Mid-Autumn mask is an extremely popular toy due to its appealing appearance, as it imitates beloved and interesting characters that have appeared on television, in movies, or in the fairy tales your mother used to tell.
Plastic masks: This type of Mid-Autumn mask made of plastic is extremely popular in Vietnam because plastic is a material easy to mold, can be made in a wide variety of shapes, and children can play with masks even after the Mid-Autumn Festival has ended. High-quality plastic masks featuring famous superhero characters such as Premium Spider-Man Mask or Batman Mask are often enjoyed by children at every full-moon festival.
Mặt nạ giấy bồi: Từ thời kỳ văn hóa Đông Sơn, người Việt cổ xưa đã biết làm mặt là từ da thú, vỏ cây. Đến thời hiện đại, người ta thay thế các chất liệu đó bằng giấy bồi, loại mặt nạ Trung Thu này đã có mặt từ lâu đời và mang đậm nét văn hóa truyền thống của dân tộc.
Mặt nạ giấy: Loại mặt nạ Trung Thu cuối cùng mà Mykingdom muốn giới thiệu là mặt nạ giấy, đây là loại mặt nạ được sử dụng rộng rãi nhất vì nó rất dễ làm tại nhà. Tuy nhiên, mặt nạ giấy không bền và nhanh rách, đứt dây.
Các loại mặt nạ trên đều dùng cho mục đích hỗ trợ bé vui chơi đêm trăng rằm, những loại mặt nạ có mặt lâu đời và mang đậm nét đặc trưng của Việt Nam là mặt nạ giấy bồi. Không những là món đồ chơi cho đêm trăng tròn, loại mặt nạ này còn giúp con tìm hiểu về văn hóa, truyền thống mùa lễ hội.
Learn about Vietnam's cultural traditions through the making of papier-mâché masks
The Mid-Autumn mask made of papier-mâché is an ancient cultural product of Vietnam; the mask is entirely handmade, so the details on the papier-mâché mask are finished very carefully and meticulously.
Step 1: The artisan prepares cement molds of various shapes; these molds are used to create the mask's face and shape the mask throughout the making of the papier-mâché mask
Step 2: The artisans gradually layer scraps of paper onto the mold, while at the same time applying a glue made from cassava starch; then continue layering papers to give the mask rigidity. In this step, the craftspeople must be very careful and lay the paper evenly; otherwise, the mask will have thick and thin areas on different parts.
Step 3: The artisan removes the shaped masks from the molds and then dries them in the sun until completely dry.
Step 4: This is the final step in the papier-mâché mask-making process; artisans paint multiple layers of color on the mask to create shape and gloss. The previous layer must be completely dry before applying a new layer, because if you repeatedly apply new layers, the mask will become blotchy.
Mid-Autumn Masks are an indispensable toy for the Lantern Festival; they symbolize not only the Mid-Autumn Festival but also the “cultural tradition” of the nation. After learning about how to make papier-mâché masks, parents can make masks with their children at home or educate, explain, and supplement their children's knowledge about the rich origins of this nation's culture.
