A Passage to China- Public Holidays

The New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1 of the solar calendar. People have two days off officially, but it is not celebrated as an important holiday mainly because the traditional Chinese New Year is soon to come and also because, especially since China has pursued an open-door policy, the New Year’s day is sort of anti-climaxed on Christmas Holiday.

The International Women’s Day is on March 8. Women employees will get a half paid day off on this day. On this day, most women will take part in some activities to celebrate their own holiday. It is a sign of the effort of the government to draw every social attention to the equal rights for women.

The Tree-Planting Day is on March 12. It has been highly promoted since the late 1970s by the government. It marks the beginning of a greening campaign for environmental protection all over China.

The International Labor Day is on May 1. Employees will enjoy a three day holiday. But with tourism economy spreading, the government designed this holiday as a week-holiday by shifting the weekends proceeding or following the above three days to promote tourism in China. It is called Golden Week because it is the best season for tourism. It is not wise, however, to travel at this time without full reservation of tickets and hotels; many people travel around at the same time.

The Youth Day is on May 4, in memory of the first mass student movement in the year of 1919, a movement touched off by the then government that gave in to the Japanese government’s attempt to colonize Shandong Province. It is also an anti-Confucius movement as well as one that promoted the western ideas of science and democracy. A half day off is officially stipulated for the youth but most of them take part in the activities organized by their institutions and enterprises.
The Children’s Day is on June1. It is the day most welcomed by kids all over the country. Almost all entertainment places such as cinemas, parks and children museums and palaces are open free to them. Elementary schools hold celebration parties while parents give presents to their children.
The CCP’s Birthday Celebrations is on July 1. It marks the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai. It is usually celebrated by all kinds of media sponsored by government. Recreational activities and singing competitions are held by the members of the Communist Party on or proceeding that day in celebration of the occasion.

The Army’s Day falls on August 1, in memory of the founding of the national army in Chinese communist history for August 1, 1927. It was regarded as the beginning of Red Army (later the People’s Liberation Army). Now the anniversary is often used to promote better relationships between the army and civilians.

The Teacher’s Day is on September 1. It was started in the early eighties as an effort to reverse the anti-intellectual sentiment nurtured by the “Cultural Revolution’. It is a sign that the whole society has come to know how important knowledge is and to admit the importance of teachers.
The National Day is celebrated on October 1 in memory of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. It is also a three-day holiday. The government designed this holiday as a week-holiday by shifting the weekends prevailing and following the above three days as on May Day in the spring. Just as the Golden Week in May, this Golden Week in October is also the best season for sightseeing in autumn. But the warning for May Day travel is still useful here: reservation should come before you set foot on the journey.

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