Snowflakes Welcome Christmas, Hometown Sounds Greet the New Year – Shaanxi Association Holds Christmas and New Year Celebration & Board Members' Collective Birthday Celebration

By Mr. Zhou Zhijun

Shaanxi Association of Canada

December 30, 2025

Recently, the Shaanxi Association of Canada held a lively Christmas and New Year celebration & board member's collective birthday celebration in Richmond Hill. Nearly forty board members, their families, and guests gathered in a festive atmosphere of twinkling lights and jingling bells, reminiscing about their shared hometown and celebrating their birthdays, bringing a warm and unforgettable end to 2025.

Recently, the Shaanxi Association of Canada held a lively Christmas and New Year's celebration, along with a collective birthday celebration for its board members, in Richmond Hill. Nearly forty board members, their families, and guests gathered to celebrate their birthdays amidst the festive atmosphere of twinkling lights and jingling bells, sharing their deep feelings for their hometown and drawing a warm and unforgettable conclusion to 2025.

The event kicked off amidst laughter and joy. Host Xu Chun's lively and fluid transitions seamlessly connected each segment. President Zhou Zhijun, on behalf of the association, extended warm holiday greetings to all guests and offered sincere blessings to the board members celebrating their birthdays in the fourth quarter. He also expressed special gratitude to the volunteer team, led by Vice President Lei Jihua, for their tireless dedication behind the scenes. President Zhou emphasized that this gathering was not just a festive celebration, but also a vivid reflection of the close-knit unity of the association family. He reviewed the association's remarkable achievements in cultural heritage preservation and community service over the past year and bowed in respect to every member who has worked diligently behind the scenes.

Of note was the appearance of Mr. Zou from the Shaanxi Ansai Waist Drum Team, who, as a birthday celebrant, appeared dressed in a bright Christmas outfit, seemingly perfectly blending the joy of the holiday with the charm of Shaanxi, injecting a burst of vibrant energy into the event.

At the heartwarming birthday celebration, the birthday celebrants donned floral crowns, received blessings, and cut a sweet cake, filling the room with laughter and emotion. In his speech, birthday representative Chu Guang expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the hometown association for its meticulous organization and to the hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Luo Yan, for generously providing a spacious venue and personally preparing a sumptuous meal, as well as to honorary director Ai Xue for her meticulously prepared Shaanxi specialties—liangpi (cold skin noodles) and roujiamo (meat sandwich). These authentic local snacks seemed to bring the flavors of their hometown to a foreign land, leaving a lasting impression.

The successful conclusion of every event hosted by the Shaanxi Association is thanks to the strong support from all sectors of society. Hongrui Financial, as the title sponsor of the Shaanxi Association's 25th anniversary celebration, sent its president, Ms. Ivy Song, to the event to deliver a lively and detailed investment seminar. Like a wise mentor, she analyzed the current market volatility and looked ahead to the economic prospects for 2026. Her practical and down-to-earth content drew continuous applause and enthusiastic interaction from the audience.

Throughout the event, Vice President Li Yuanming and professional media personality Lili Cheng collaborated to capture every wonderful moment, providing comprehensive video documentation. Among the signature dishes brought by each family, the steaming hot Shaanxi cold noodles and fragrant roujiamo (meat sandwiches) became the focus of attention, instantly evoking a deep sense of nostalgia for their homeland. The subsequent talent show and free exchange session were even more exciting: melodious singing, lively dancing, and laughter surged like waves.

Following this, the event moved into a joyful karaoke session. Everyone took turns singing, their voices rising and falling in a vibrant chorus. There were also heartwarming scenes of dancing to the music and raising toasts in celebration. Old and new friends gathered, celebrating Christmas and welcoming the New Year amidst songs and laughter.