With the city lightened by the fire dragon, drone shows, lanterns, and unexpected lightning, this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival gathered everyone from kids to elderly, residents to tourists. The festivities extended beyond public events, with unique stories in every household.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the full moon illuminates the land. According to China Highlights, the festival dates back over 3,000 years ago, when emperors in the Zhou Dynasty began to worship the moon. Traditions like moon-gazing, mooncake tasting, and lantern decorating followed. While ceremonial aspects have diminished, the modern definition of the Mid-Autumn Festival has evolved.
Lanterns are a staple of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year’s extravaganza started with masterfully crafted fish-shaped lanterns at Lee Tung Avenue, alongside over 800 traditional Chinese lanterns. With either professional DSLR cameras, vintage digital cameras, or just phones, everyone jostled for prime spots to capture their unique Mid-Autumn moments. An 18-meter-long LED dragon drew crowds together, including the 28-year-old video producer Beltha Ng, who brought her whole family to see the performance. “Mid-Autumn is all about family reunions, so the most important thing is that we are together. This year, I want to bring my daughter to see these lanterns and the show – it’s her first time,” said Ng. Half an hour before the dragon dance, the 200-meter pedestrian was flooded, leaving only a one-meter passage for people to pass through.
500 meters from Lee Tung Avenue, Blue House attracted tourists and photographers with its over 600 ball-shaped lanterns with unique patterns. The Grade I historic building’s blue exterior wall harmonized with yellow, blue, and red lanterns, creating a picturesque backdrop for couples, friends, families, and even pet owners to take photos.
In addition to all the photogenic spots across the city, Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance led a moving crowd in Causeway Bay. This event showcased a 20-meter LED dragon carried by around 100 children, alongside a 67-meter fire dragon supported by 300 performers, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
At 10:07, while a crowd of more than ten rows deep gathered at the entrance of Victoria Park – the final stop of the September 17th performance – a sudden heavy rain surprised the city. Amber rain and thunderstorms might have put off most of the incense, but not people’s passions; audiences holding umbrellas or putting plastic bags on their heads managed to stay until the highlight of the evening, the “Fire” Dragon, arrived at the park. The enduring dedication of Hong Kong residents to this Mid-Autumn Festival tradition, even after a century, is evident.
As these traditions persist, the question “What does the Mid-Autumn Festival mean?” has taken on a personal and open-ended nature.
For young locals like 20-year-old engineering student Angus Yiu, the festival serves as a valuable opportunity for family reunions. “Everyone in my family is at different stages of our lives: my sister is working, I’m in university, and my parents are working for their companies too. Having this day when everyone feels the importance of coming back home and catching up on everyone’s life is such a big part of the occasion,” said Yiu. The younger generations in Hong Kong appreciate the festival as a chance to pause and reconnect amidst the fast pace of life.
For those in a later stage of life, memory adds another layer to the Mid-Autumn Festival. “Mid-Autumn means a lot to me because it’s a signifier of autumn, which is one of my favorite seasons,” said Ray Chan, a 53-year-old retiree. “It’s when my daughter was born, and very close to my wedding anniversary. The first festival I spent with my then-girlfriend (now wife) was in Mid-Autumn. There’s a lot of sentimentality there.” Similarly, 74-year-old retired worker Jeffrey Woo described the festival as evoking sweet memories. “In the past, the mooncakes were way bigger, like four people serving,” said Woo. “But I do like the mini mooncakes now, there are so many flavors, and I don’t have to eat too much,” added Woo’s wife, who he came to watch the lanterns at Lee Tung Avenue with.
Being one of the most international cities in the world, Hong Kong’s local holiday celebrations offer foreign visitors like 23-year-old marine biology student Connie Oxenham a glimpse into the culture. “It’s so cool! It’s kind of like the bonfire night we had at home in the UK. The streets are so busy, with all the lights,” said Oxenham. For non-locals, the Mid-Autumn Festival means the vibrant street decorations.
The meaning of Mid-Autumn also extends beyond personal significance. 19-year-old bakery owner Kaka Yuen, who launched her business in 2020, sees this holiday as an opportunity to introduce festive products and promotions. “I would give discounts to my customers who post my products on social media to encourage them to buy from me again next time. It’s also a chance to innovate by introducing new or limited-edition products to attract attention,” said Yuen. Yuen’s macaron mooncake collection on her bakery account, “bakeology,” garnered likes from many young customers.
Despite the positive interpretations of the holiday, concerns about environmental pollution from excessive celebrations have emerged. According to Feeding Hong Kong, a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing food waste, over 3.2 million pieces of mooncakes were wasted in 2023, which could have spread more joy to vulnerable communities. The “Mooncake Madness 2024” campaign called for people to donate surplus mooncakes which they promised to send to charities and shelters. Likewise, HKU Sustainability set up collection bins on the campus of The University of Hong Kong. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the recyclability of mooncake boxes, according to HKU sustainability staff.
From family reunions, nostalgia, and economic prospects to environmental responsibility, the Mid-Autumn Festival has evolved beyond its traditional meaning. Despite ongoing shifts and necessary adaptations, “Mid-Autumn is all about joy, that’s all that matters,” said Woo.