JOHOR BARU: Some memories are too precious to leave in the past, so Er Wee Meng revived one of his favourite childhood pastimes by turning used beverage tins into lanterns with his six-year-old son.
The 45-year-old businessman said this Mid-Autumn Festival was the perfect opportunity to introduce his son, Yi Nuo, to the simple craft he enjoyed as a kampung boy growing up in Yong Peng.
“Growing up in the 1980s, my family did not have much, and we used to make our own toys from items we had at home.
“Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the other children in my village and I would turn Milo tins and food cans into lanterns instead of spending money on paper lanterns, which could easily catch fire from the candle,” he said in an interview.
Er recalled how the children would punch holes in the bottom of the tins with a hammer and nail before tying metal wire to the top and bottom so the lanterns could be hung sideways.
The group of 10 to 20 children would then proudly parade through the village streets with their handmade lanterns every night for a week leading up to the festival.
Er said the hands-on project got his son excited, as it was also the boy’s first time handling tools under close adult supervision.
“His cousin, who was visiting us from Singapore, and a neighbour’s child also joined in the fun.
“We hope this activity can show them what their parents used to play with as children, while highlighting the importance of continuing our traditions and keeping our customs alive,” he said.
The lantern-making session also struck a chord with others after Er’s wife shared their experience on social media.
“We received a lot of positive feedback from friends who had similar childhood experiences. Some even said they wanted to try similar projects at home with their children,” he said.
“Besides tin lanterns, I have also shown him how to make paper kites from newspapers. Hopefully, these activities will teach him to better appreciate the things he has today and perhaps pass these skills down to his own children in the future,” he added.
