Wei Jie

claudiamente@hotmail.com

DONNED in traditional Chinese attire and the national dress of their home countries, more than 30 local and expat residents gathered Saturday in Shekou for a workshop on mooncake making and traditional paper-cutting to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Oct. 6 this year.

Organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), the event venue was decorated with red lanterns to create a festive atmosphere.

The activity opened with briefings on the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the craftsmanship behind mooncakes, and the history and symbolism of paper-cutting art.

The mooncake part focused on making flaky (su-pi) mooncakes. Each stage — from rolling and forming the dough to enclosing the filling and shaping the rolls — was demonstrated before participants tried it themselves.

While the mooncakes baked, the paper-cutting table provided a quieter counterpoint.

With scissors and red paper in hand, participants learned to fold and cut traditional motifs.

Guided by instructors, they produced delicate designs including the jade rabbit, a full moon, and auspicious cloud patterns — images rich in Mid-Autumn symbolism. The paper-cutting activity proved to be a creative way for people from different backgrounds to appreciate Eastern aesthetics.

When the oven door opened, golden, fragrant mooncakes drew a round of applause. Tasting their own creations, participants wore smiles of pride. For many, the sense of accomplishment was as sweet as the pastries.

“It was my first time trying these Chinese traditional crafts — so novel and fun. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event,” said Matilde Frangipane, an Italian participant.

Though she has lived in China for eight years, South African Monique Lourens tried flaky mooncakes for the first time at the workshop and said she greatly enjoyed the experience.

Seeing her paper-cut version of the Chinese fairy Chang’e taking shape, Rachel Kirby, from the U.K., couldn’t hide her excitement.

“I made it. Its difficulty to cut made the experience even more fulfilling and rewarding.”