(Minghui.org) To welcome the arrival of the 2024 Christmas season, Middletown and Wallkill in upstate New York held Christmas tree lighting parades the weekend after Thanksgiving Day. Local Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate in the celebrations, adding a unique touch to the parades.
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the Tree Lighting Parade & Ceremony in Middletown on November 29.
Practitioners participate in the Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in the town of Wallkill, N.Y., on November 30.
Tree Lighting Parade and Ceremony in Middletown
Middletown Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano said the city’s Christmas lighting parade has a 25-year history, and the number of participants has increased in recent years.
This is a community event that has grown from a few groups to more than 50 groups participating now, and more than 500 people came this year. Mayor DeStefano said that the multi-colored lights reflected that the community is a diverse city made up of people from different backgrounds and different religious beliefs. He said, “No matter what you believe, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and good luck in the New Year 2025.”
Mayor Joseph M. DeStefano took a group photo with Falun Dafa practitioners.
Mayor DeStefano talked with Falun Dada practitioners and said, “We are very grateful for your participation. We always get positive responses from you. We know celebrating Christmas is not your tradition, but you also come to celebrate the community festival. We are grateful for this!”
Falun Dafa representative Ms. Wu said that during this parade practitioners had two teams, a waist drum team and an exercise demonstration team.
“Both teams are very popular. We are part of the community, so we are invited to participate in Christmas activities every year to enhance understanding among neighbors and make the community more united,” she said. “In addition, we brought wonderful Falun Gong exercises. People in the community often participate in the nine-day class to learn Falun Gong, which has amazing effects in healing disease and improving health. This is the best Christmas gift for people.”
Luis Quecada, an Ecuadorian immigrant who’s lived in Middletown for three years, took photos and praised the Falun Dafa team as, “very beautiful.”
Luis Quecada takes photos of the parade in Middletown.
“The participation of these Chinese people is important,” he said. “Because they add diversity to our city; and I also like their traditions and ideas, as well as their food.”
There were also various kinds of colorful floats in the Middletown parade. Children and adults wore Christmas costumes or colorful lights to kick off the happy festival.
Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Town of Wallkill
Falun Gong practitioners had a strong lineup of 150 people to participate in the parade in Wallkill, including a banner team, lotus flower team, waist drum team, big drum team, and Taigu drum team, all were warmly welcomed by the town government and the public.
“As Falun Dafa practitioners in the community, we are here to welcome Christmas and share the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance with our neighbors and friends,” Falun Dafa representative Louis Russo said. “This is both a family-centered holiday moment and a spiritual moment. We really like to come out and be with friends and show our banners and colors.”
The exciting drumbeats drew a large number of Wallkill residents to watch the parade. People said that the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are not only needed by Chinese people, but also by Americans.
Barry Schnipper (right) and his children in the Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Town of Wallkill on November 30.
“I saw their huge banners, especially the messages, which were so striking. The message was very big. I like the message, I really like it, and I like what these people do,” resident Barry Schnipper said. “This is freedom, and I love this country. I don’t like what’s happening now [the persecution in China], and people are treated unfairly. Their message makes us feel comfortable; China needs it [Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance], and the United States needs it, too. I hope Falun Dafa practitioners will come to participate in the parade next year.”
Shawna Strandfeld, another spectator who watched the parade with her friends, said they saw the Falun Dafa team in the parade in Middletown. She said that she was very happy to see more drum formations today.
Shawna Strandfeld (right) and friend in the Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Town of Wallkill
“The Chinese team is splendid,” she said. “Their message is also good, celebrating the diversity here.”
Wallkill Mayor George Serrano said that this event is held every year and has been expanding every year during his term. This year’s event features a drone show, with dozens of drones forming various animations in the sky, including flowers, dogs, the town’s name, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and reindeer delivering gifts to children. Of course, this year’s feature also includes the participation of Falun Gong friends.
Wallkill Mayor George Serrano takes a photo with the waist drum team.
“This is their first time participating, and we look forward to them joining the parade forever,” said the mayor. “Our community is diverse, and we want everyone to participate in everything we do. We want to show the greatness of different communities, and we must walk together. I look forward to this great partnership.”
Town Police Chief Robert Hertman was on site to supervise security for the parade. He admired the practitioners’ team and took a photo with them. “The dance was beautiful, and there was also a drum team. I couldn’t pick which one was better. They are a great group of people,” he said.
Police Chief Robert Hertman of Wallkill
After the parade, thousands of residents gathered in the town center, drinking hot chocolate while enjoying the national anthem, the mayor’s speech and the girls’ Christmas dance. Finally, people looked up to watch the wonderful and unique drone aerial show. In the evening, a huge Christmas tree was lit up, and people cheered and welcomed the arrival of this year’s Christmas season.
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