At the end of the year, what Chinese friends think about most is family affection and reunion. The ancients have long said that every holiday season, you will miss your relatives! Today, if you don’t gather, chat, and have a meal with your family and friends during the New Year’s Day, then this year will be a waste of time. Hongye Cultural Association Recreation House observes the feelings of homesickness of overseas Chinese, and holds a banquet for hundreds of families at the end of each year. The so-called "Hundred Family Banquet" is to allow each member to bring their own dishes. Everyone gathers together and eats a buffet around the table to promote communication and enhance friendship.
In China, this way of gathering has been around since the Song Dynasty, and it has a history of nearly a thousand years. This year's dinner time will be at noon on December 21st on Christmas Eve. Different from previous activities, this year Recreation House invited the western elderly square dancers from Waterdown Village Square led by Mr.Bill Everett to have a dinner with us. They are our old friends. They have taught us how to dance the square dance several times this year, and they are very popular with everyone. On the day of the party, they all came here in full costumes. On the one hand, they looked energetic, and on the other hand, they also showed their courtesy and respect to the organizer.
Early in the morning, many Chinese elders are busy, and they have to carefully prepare a few good dishes to share with everyone; there are also some that save trouble, just go to the supermarket to buy a copy and take it with you.Here, Western friends also brought their favorite food. At noon, the four large long tables in the Tansley Woods activity room were full of forty or fifty dishes: chicken, duck, meat, eggs, shrimp; Hanamaki, soup dumplings, pancakes, fried dough sticks, dumplings, etc. Colorful; there are 4 large pots of soup and porridge just cooked in the morning, steaming; next to it are dozens of snacks and large plates of fruits. At 11:30, the party officially started. Hosts Tian and Zhang Lei gave a brief speech. Welcome everyone to the "home" of Kangle Home for the holidays. I hope everyone will have fun and enjoy a better life in the new year! Then, the elders who were sitting at the 7 big round tables took turns in line to pick up food, and then went back to the table to eat and talk. The food is indeed plentiful. Many people went to fetch them two or three times.
At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, I finished eating and drinking, and started to dance the square dance. Square dance was originally a type of country dance and folk dance in the American West. Every 8 dancers form a group, divided into 4 pairs to form squares, and then a eloquent and flexible conductor will improvise the dance steps and dance. The dancer takes the dance steps according to the password, forming an exchange with the dance partnerAnd various formation changes. Because the dance is relatively simple and easy to learn, with many movements but relatively peaceful, it can achieve the purpose of exercise without being too tired, so it quickly became popular in North America and some other countries, especially by the elderly. Mr. Bill is an excellent conductor. His dance step commands are loud and clear, and the rhythm is clear and lively, giving the dancers the urge to follow up immediately. The elders used to learn to dance square dance, and now they are very enthusiastic about it. Although the movements are a bit rusty, there are so many Western teachers who have demonstrated and instructed over and over again, and they have quickly mastered the essentials. Following the command's command, the "squares" in the entire hall continued to change formations. Some old people jumped panting, sweating, and smiles on their faces.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the school bus to pick up the old people is coming, and today's activity is over. Everyone said goodbye, and many people said that they had another happy day. In a few days, the new year is coming, and the new century is about to pass one-fifth. People often sigh, time flies so fast, where does the time go? In fact, time is with us every minute, as long as you pursue happiness and friendship, you can always enjoy a good time!
