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Q: Qingming Festival Holiday....or just another working weekend?
I don't see any point of calling these holiday since we need to go to work on weekend!!!
they give you with 1 hand, but they demand 2 hand's back!!!
what's your opinion about this?
12 years 5 weeks ago in Relationships - China
Most Chinese holidays are this way so that people can travel. It is a good idea for travel, since 3 days give you more options than one. However, compared to holidays back home, it seems silly because we are usually just given days off and aren't required to make them up. What can you do? The holiday is on a Wednesday this year.
Not a fan. Gotta work Sunday to get Tuesday and Wednesday off? Sucks, imho....
When you look at it from your point of view, it does suck !. But now, try hard looking at it from the Chinese mentality and their point of view. In this particular holiday, you travel back home to the tombs of ancestors there, and since most of them are located on top (or near the top {and facing south}) of a hill, weeds must be removed, ground cleaned, maybe even tomb be repainted, and with prayers and offering, it would be an all day affair. With the travel there and back on top of this activity, there will be not enough time to accomplish all of these things with just one day off for the holiday. So, they came up with the idea of working the previous Sunday and then get two days off instead of one. Hell, I do know of a few local places that will work on two consecutive week ends and get three days off then.
Again, you do not have to go and do all that work on any tomb, so to you it sucks, and it is understandable. But for locals, who must do many preparations for this activity, from gathering cleaning and painting supplies, to offerings to the Gods in the form of thin cardboard made houses, cars, small statues of men and women, shoes, clothes, fake money, gold and silver ingots, etc. And do not forget fruits, crackers, candles, incense, and the firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.
I have been invited to one, and I am involved in the preparations too, giving a hand in getting everything required ready. The plan is to go to Gao Village, where the family tombs are located, and after finishing there, go to the nearby Pagoda to pray and more offerings. To me, it will be a learning experience, and I am looking forward to it.
