After some real summer days, we’ve had cold again. It’s time to tell an old story I’m always interested in – hope you like it.
Princess Bân was a beloved daughter of the King of heaven. However, while her other sisters were very skilful of doing everything, she was very clumsy. People usually laughed at her but she did not feel sad for that. Her parents – The King and the Queen loved her and wanted to help her live happily. They let her marry a young man who also lived in the heaven. Her parents hoped that when she was married she would know more about housework and could be good at it.
The princess loved and respected her husband very much. She always tried her best to take care of him. When the first chilly breeze blew as a sign of winter coming, she intended to make a warm coat for her husband. She wanted to make it by herself. She believed the coat could keep her husband warm no matter how cold it could be because it contained her sweet love for him. That thought brightened her face and she was very happy to start to. However, she was too clumsy that she made everything drop or break when she touched them and she usually had to spend time to find something missed so her work did not go on well. She still kept working days and nights. When the winter nearly moved away and spring was preparing to come, she only finished sleeves. Many people laughed at her and teased her but she did not care. She did not give up. Everyday day the poor princess still tried her best to complete her husband warm coat.
Time flew. January was over. February was over, too. Finally, she finished the coat. However, she could not smile happily because the cold weather was gone at that time. The summer was there with the beautiful sunshine. She could not enjoy that beauty. Looking at the coat, she felt so sad and wanted to cry.
The King was not pleased when his daughter sad. He asked her and the princess told him with her tender voice that she wished she had finished it some days earlier so her husband could have tried it on. The Father, moving by his daughter’s love, ordered the cold weather came back for some days. The princess was very happy to see her husband wear the coat which was made with all her heart.
Up to now, in every year when the cold season is replaced by the hot season people still have some cold days. The weather reminds people of the story of princess Bân sewing warm coat for her husband. People call the coldness “rét nàng Bân” which mean the cold weather for lady Bân. Mothers usually tell their children the story on chilly days while helping them wear their warm coat.
A poem:Rét nàng Bân (by Tế Hanh)
Khi em đan áo ấm cho anhGió còn thổi qua bàn tay lạnhNhững đôi chim tìm nhau ủ cánhMây đầy trời, rơi rớt nắng mong manh
Em vội dệt thời gian qua sợi thắmNhững giờ trưa không nghỉ những đêm thâuSợi len mịn so sợi lòng rối rắmÁo đan rồi, mùa lạnh hết còn đâu!
Em gửi áo lo anh giận dỗiNhận áo em anh lại ngại em phiềnĐời cán bộ ít giờ nhàn rỗiVì việc chung đôi lúc nhẹ niềm riêng
Hoa bắt đầu thưa thớt cuối đường xuânCành cây đã sum suê lá đậmTháng ba đến với những ngày nắng ấmBỗng mùa đông trở lại! Rét nàng Bân
Nàng Bân xưa may áo ấm cho chồngÁo may xong không còn mùa lạnh nữaNàng Bân khóc, đất trời thương lệ ứaCho rét về đáp lại nỗi chờ mong
Anh mặc áo của em và cảm thấyBàn tay yêu nhân ấm gấp hai lầnThời gian hiểu lòng ta biết mấy:Có tình người nên có rét nàng Bân.
