Chinese New Year in Modern Times
To focus on the Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival, as it’s commonly referred to) we start with a little bit of history. The celebration is centuries old, and holds a lot of cultural truisms that give outsiders a very solid grasp of Chinese traditions and values within the context of a family-oriented gathering during the Lunar new year. As with Christmas in the west, the ideal version of this holiday is spent with family, as the new year is punctuated by large gatherings around the dinner table, and time off from work to reflect upon the past, present, and future. The holiday also presents some clashes within its own culture, as ancient ideals and modern realities seem to form a rather inharmonious mixture at times.
They’re cute… but don’t let ‘em fool you!
Traditionally, the new year festivities cover a 15-day period, and there are many symbolic acts associated with these days. In recent times, the traditions have given way to a more modern perception of life, with many of the traditional activities falling to the wayside as time becomes more precious to young professionals who seek opportunities to keep the momentum of their earnings from suffering a drop-off. Chinese senior citizens are much more active in the participation of the festivities, and it’s common to see grandchildren and other young people left in their care during this time. Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in China, and a statutory holiday is added on the following work day when the New Year falls on a weekend. However, the reality for many modern urban professional Chinese is that there are no days off from work, and their companies will often coerce them to accept future days off in exchange for the overtime. While many still think of China as a factory worker’s nightmare, the truth is that it’s becoming less of an ideal place for the office workers who find themselves in a stranglehold, with unemployment rates up, fierce competition the norm, and stability for coveted career paths in constant peril.
Another point to consider about the new year for the many wholesalers are retailers who work with China is the dreaded “blackout period” during the holidays. Those who have been doing business with China for a while now have learned; but many new opportunity-seekers are unaware of the dangers that may lie in wait for those who don’t anticipate and prepare for the season. With migrant workers from the countryside coming to the inner cities by the millions every year, there is a tremendous amount of manpower lost during the festival, due to the workforce simply packing up and leaving town for the holidays. It’s not uncommon for people to literally quit their jobs during this time, so that a new year – and a new job – become part of the holiday tradition. In addition, it’s a time for some factory owners and stakeholders in their respective ventures to pull out and roll up their tents too – often with disastrous consequences to their employees – as they decide to ring in the new year by taking the company’s profits elsewhere. The interruptions in service, production, and distribution can be akin to a major computer crash for firms and companies outside China who are unaware of the fragility of the system at this time of year. While most pull through without much aggravation, some falter and fail in the wake of inexplicable stoppages that seem to lack any link to a reasonable rationale whatsoever. The ones who learn from experience continue to thrive.
Due diligence is always key when doing business with China. Their government has proven that a my way or the highway approach is the most opted-for, especially when the chips are down. For those who don’t allow themselves to accept certain realities of life with China as your trade partner, it could be a painful surprise. For those who take in the knowledge and experience of others who have been there, it’s just another day in the neighborhood… and perhaps even a chance to adopt a little bit of the Chinese New Year for themselves, as a way to enjoy a little down-time while the Dragon is busy with jiao zi, bai jiu, and fireworks.
