Autumn used to be my favorite season--after all, my birthday is in September. But after living in China for nearly seven years, my heart now belongs to winter.

The festive atmosphere and the anticipation of boundless joy during winter have long since surpassed the excitement of a single birthday celebration. In China, the holiday season seems to begin as early as December, when preparations for Western Christmas unfold. Then in Russia comes New Year’s Eve and Orthodox Christmas on Jan 7, marking the peak of festivities --just as the Spring Festival spirit starts to awaken in China.

This year was my second time returning to Russia for Spring Festival. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, I boarded my first flight from Hangzhou. Twenty-four hours later, I found myself wrapped in my mother’s warm embrace, kissed on both cheeks and my forehead as I arrived at Perm Airport. It might sound sentimental, but Spring Festival has become the only time I can return home to see all my family and friends. At the same time, my family now has one more festival to celebrate together. Like most Chinese people, the last month of winter has become a season of reunion for us.

At my home, Russian and Chinese New Year traditions blend seamlessly. While most Russians take down their New Year tree by late January, ours stays up until the end of February. A 福 (Fu) character hangs upside down on our entrance door all year round. And when my family gathers for a festive meal, the table is filled with Russian New Year salads alongside Hangzhou’s Longjing tea, served to a lively and loud family who always visit on the first weekend after my arrival.

Of course, I never come empty-handed. My suitcase is always packed with souvenirs from China--tea, calligraphy, Chinese ink paintings, and traditional medicine for my grandparents, which I place under the New Year tree for my relatives and friends to choose from. This year, I also brought mystery toy boxes, a popular trend among young people in China. Although my nieces, nephews, and friends didn’t recognize most of the characters, they had a blast opening them, eagerly guessing which figure they would get next. If you’re ever looking for a fun souvenir from China, I highly recommend them!

I spent ten precious days at home, savoring every moment with my family. Evenings were filled with long conversations over tea, honey, and wild berries, while days were spent snowboarding, ice-skating, and indulging in my grandmother’s cooking--the most delicious soups, pan-fried meat patties, and elesh (a traditional Tatar pastry stuffed with beef, potato, and black pepper).

Spring Festival has ended, and I’ve returned to Hangzhou--a city I love almost as much as my hometown. Yet, even as I settle back into my daily routine, I already find myself looking forward to next winter.