There is something distinctly romantic about Hong Kong’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which this year falls on September 14. It is a night filled with picnics on the beach under a full moon, families gathered together enjoying mooncakes and the soft glow of lantern light dotting the streets, parks and beaches like fireflies. In old Chinese literature and culture, the moon poetically symbolises the changes in life, just as it continuously changes in shape. A full, round moon symbolises loved ones coming together, and the festival is truly imbued with the happiness of family reunions. While families still gather as ever before, some traditions have undergone changes over the years, adjusting to suit the needs of our time.

For children, part of the fun of the Mid-Autumn Festival is choosing a lantern. The most basic type of lantern is made of paper, folded like an accordion and lit with a candle inside. However, lantern designs can be very intricate and crafted into impressive works of art. The shapes and sizes are limitless but they are often fashioned into goldfish, butterflies and other animals. One simple but time-honoured lantern is the starfruit lantern, so called due to its shape (similar to the shape of an American football). It is created out of a simple frame of curved wires and wrapped with paper or cloth. Cellophane lanterns are particularly magnificent with their bright, glistening colours. They often portray fish and rabbits and have all the charm of traditional folk art.

Traditional lanterns have become less popular over the years. There are safety concerns about the use of candles, as the lanterns can easily catch fire. For safety and convenience, many families now opt for plastic models that are battery operated and use a small light bulb. These modern lanterns can be manufactured in any shape, from traditional animals to the latest cartoon characters. Not surprisingly, most children prefer the latest Hello Kitty design over a starfruit. Many older revellers forego lanterns altogether – glow sticks are an equally popular accessory.

Safety concerns have also led to the banning of the tradition of “wax burning” in recent years. Wax burning is essentially building a bonfire on the beach or in parks by burning a large amount of candle wax, usually in a mooncake tin. This ritual – once a hallmark of Mid-Autumn festivities – is now prohibited in Hong Kong, due to the danger it poses to people and property, as well as the mess it leaves behind.

Another festival tradition is the consumption of mooncakes, a very rich pastry that family and friends buy in tin boxes and give to each other around this time of the year. Each one consists of a golden outer skin and thick sweet paste inside, lotus seed paste being the most traditional filling in Hong Kong. They sometimes have one or more salted egg yolks embedded in the filling, symbolising the full moon. There are many variations on the traditional delicacy, with differences in fillings and crust textures. Presentation is also important; mooncakes are baked in moulds that usually have elaborate floral designs and a lucky Chinese character. High-end hotels and restaurants make their own versions with their logos imprinted on the crust.

Although traditional mooncakes still reign supreme, many makers are keeping up with food trends by offering unconventional flavours and colours. For those who baulk at the oily and rich lotus seed paste, newer creations have fillings ranging from chocolate to fruit to nuts. “Snowy” mooncakes, a new take on the ancient treat, have only been around for the last two decades. They are shaped like standard mooncakes but bear few other similarities. They are not baked but chilled with a gelatinous outer layer – in any colour of the rainbow – and can be filled with practically any flavour, including such modern favourites as tiramisu, coffee and different kinds of ice cream. As people have become more health-conscious in the past few years, makers have also been developing healthier mooncakes in smaller sizes with lower fat content and less oil.

Also a sign of the times is the concern over the environmental impact of mooncake packaging. The pastry is usually bought gift-ready in metal boxes with nostalgic Chinese designs, and each cake is individually packaged in plastic. Green activists have pointed out that this practice is environmentally unfriendly, as most of the packaging material is non-biodegradable. In response, many major retailers have switched to cardboard packaging.

These deeply-rooted traditions may be continually altered by cultural shifts, but they are moving us toward a more progressive way to celebrate. However, one can trust that the joy and meaning of Mid-Autumn Festival will stay forever constant.

The most spectacular community events take place during Mid-Autumn Festival. Several large carnivals around town will include Chinese music performances, Chinese opera performances, fortune-telling, dragon dances and elaborate lantern displays. The biggest event will be the fire dragon dance in Tai Hang on the evenings of September 13 to 15 which is not to be missed. Here is a full rundown of Mid-Autumn happenings: