A Guide to Understanding Chinese Holidays

For any traveller, no matter your nationality or destination, there is no question that wherever you go, people are very proud of where they come from and wear it as a badge of honor.

For a business professional, gaining insight into what drives that loyal patriotism is invaluable. When you can effortlessly demonstrate your knowledge of someone’s home country, it serves as an incredibly powerful relationship-building tool. It can improve rapport, increase sales, and can even avoid major disruptions to your business.

When the country in question has around 1.4 billion inhabitants, this is especially important.  China is a business and economic superpower in its own right and possesses a holiday calendar that bears almost no resemblance to that of most other countries.

Unlike Judeo-Christian holidays such as Easter or Christmas, China’s holiday calendar is rooted in both centuries-old agrarian roots and modern nationhood.

Dates for many of the holidays change annually, based upon the celestial calendar. Therefore, make sure you mark these important dates each year to stay on top of them.

Here’s your guide to understanding the Chinese holidays:

January: Yuán Dán (New Year’s Day)

While China’s zodiac New Year celebration doesn’t occur until February, the Chinese still recognisethe international holiday of New Year’s Day. Since the rest of the world and its businesses are closed, China follows suit for three days. Smaller celebrations are held throughout the country, though they cannot hold a candle to the celebration or significance of the national New Year celebrated the following month.

February: Chun Jié (Chinese New Year)

The Chinese New Year, celebrated in accordance with the Chinese zodiac calendar, is quite different to the New Year celebrated on the 31st of January by much of the West. Each New Year ushers in a time symbolised by one of 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac, or “Sheng Xiao.” Because each of the 12 animals hold different meanings, it is wise to research this holiday each year. For more specific information on the Chinese New Year, review our 2016 article on the Year of the Monkey here [link]. As a general rule, do not plan to conduct Chinese business during this time.

April: Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day)

A three-day festival, Qingming is a time for the Chinese people appreciate the outdoors, taking stock of the greenery and fresh blossoms of spring. It is also an important time for honoring ancestors by cleaning and attending to their tombs. Usually falling in early April (the date also deriving from the celestial calendar), Qingming is a solemn and private period for the Chinese. It’s impact on business is minimal, at best, though keep in mind some key decision-makers may be away from the office for a day or two.

May: Láo Dóng Jié (Labor Day or Mayday)

This Chinese holiday follows much of the West and is a three-day period starting May 1st each year. It doesn’t have any major cultural significance to the Chinese, but assume that key decision-makers and executives may take one or two days’ worth of holiday on either side of the date.

June: Duan Wu (Dragon Boat Festival)

The Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese holiday honouring an ancient poet, Qu Yuan, and celebrates the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. For this holiday, traditional dragon-shaped boats race on nearby waterways. While Duan Wu is waning in popularity these days, do not be surprised if you find a number of people off work, especially if they’re participating with racing teams over this three-day holiday.

September: Zhong qiu (Mid-Autumn Festival)

This holiday celebrates the triad of interlinked Chinese principles of prayer; thanksgiving and gratitude; and the gathering of family. Zhong qiu holds a significant personal importance to the Chinese people and is honored on a similar level to that of the New Year celebration in February. If you must conduct pressing business in September, it is wise to conduct it 10 days before or after this holiday.

October: Guó Qíng Jié (China National Day)

Chinese National Day is celebrated annually on October 1st. On this date in 1949, chairman Mao Zedong officially proclaimed the state of the People's Republic of China while standing at Tian'anmen Gate. Goodwill gestures, such as businesses taking out full-page magazine advertising spreads to wish people well, are common. During this time, there is no business for roughly seven days, so don’t make any arrangements for the first week in October.

Considering global sourcing from China?

Increasingly, the huge potential savings on offer mean more businesses than ever are establishing supply chains in, and sourcing globally from countries such as China.

If you’re considering becoming one of them, but want to work with a business that has a local presence in this important country, contact us for a QuickLook Analysis today and find out how much money sourcing globally could save your business.

2016: The Year of the Monkey and What it Means

For much of the world, January 1 heralded the beginning of yet another New Year. In an era where global interconnectedness is more immediate than ever, it can be easy to forget that not every country strictly adheres to the Gregorian or “Western” calendar.

Chances are you’ve heard of the Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival). You may also know that each year is associated with an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. If so, you’re off to a good start! But did you also know that the Chinese New Year is the also most important annual event in China?

In 2016, the first day of the Chinese New Year is Monday, 8th February. This will begin the Year of the Monkey. Celebrations of fireworks and lantern-lighting will mark the New Year in major cities all across China.

A Bit of Background

Understanding a bit about the history and tradition surrounding the Chinese New Year can prove incredibly valuable in building and furthering your supplier relationships in 2016.

Scholars believe the Chinese calendar dates back to the Han Dynasty, sometime between 206 BC and 220 AD. The calendar itself runs on a 12-year cycle, where each year is connected to an animal found on the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal personifies specific qualities. For example, people born in the Year of the Monkey are thought to be especially intelligent or witty. Furthermore, each animal is associated with one of five elements: earth, metal, wood, fire, and water; collectively known as “Wu Xing.”

Deconstructing the Monkey

Individuals who are (or were) born in the Year of the Monkey are considered intelligent and have engaging personalities. These are characteristics that are desirable in supplier relationships no matter the year, but given the emphasis on the monkey this year, be thankful for those sharp, gregarious suppliers!

With that said, keep in mind that it may not be the wisest move to comment on a supplier’s “improved intelligence this year” while speaking with them! Keep in mind we’re still talking about astrological information, and some people may give it more credence than others.   

The Bottom Line

In anticipation of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Monkey, now is a great time to get in touch with your suppliers. Talk with them and convey your needs for the next several months. Let them know that you are aware of their upcoming holiday and wish them the best for the coming year. Establishing this dialog reminds your supplier what your goals and needs are, and simultaneously demonstrates respectful social and cultural understanding of this time of year.

A Guide to Understanding Chinese Holidays

Anyone who’s done much travelling will know, no matter where you go, people are very proud of where they come from.

As a business person, the ability to tap into that loyal patriotism by demonstrating your knowledge of someone’s home country is an incredibly powerful rapport building tool. It can improve relationships, boost sales and can even avoid major disruptions to your business plans.

This is especially important when the country in question has around 1.4 billion inhabitants, is a business and economic superpower in its own right and possesses a holiday calendar that bears almost no resemblance to most other countries.

China doesn’t recognise Judeo-Christian holidays such as Easter or Christmas and instead derives its unique holiday calendar from a combination of age-old agrarian roots and modern nationhood.

For many of the holidays, dates change each year based on the celestial calendar so it’s important you ascertain the particular days designated for the appropriate year.

Here’s your guide to understanding the Chinese holidays.

January: Yuán Dán (New Year’s Day)

Although China has its own New Year’s eve marked by the lunar New Year, it does also recognise the international holiday of New Year’s Day. The rest of the world is closed for business and China follows suit for three days. While there are some minor celebrations, they pale in significance compared with the national New Year celebrated the following month.

February: Chun Jié (Chinese New Year)

Chinese New Year is very different to the New Year celebrated on the 31st of January by much of the West. Each New Year ushers in a time symbolised by one of 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac, or “Sheng Xiao”. Because the different animals represent different meanings, this holiday must be researched each year, and you can find our 2015 article here [link]. This is not a good time to do business in general.

April: Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day)

This three-day festival sees the Chinese people spending time outside, appreciating the greenery of spring and venerating ancestors by cleaning and attending to their tombs. It’s a solemn and private period for the Chinese that falls some time in early April depending on the celestial calendar. It’s only marginally disruptive to business in the country, though some key decision-makers may be out of the office for a day or two.

May: Láo Dóng Jié (Labor Day or Mayday)

This particular Chinese holiday follows much of the West and is a three-day period starting May 1st each year. It doesn’t have any major cultural significance to the Chinese, but assume that key decision-makers and executives may take one or two days holiday either side of the date.

June: Duan Wu (Dragon Boat Festival)

The Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese holiday that honours an ancient poet, Qu Yuan and celebrates the longest day of the year, or summer solstice. Traditionally, boats shaped like dragons are raced and although it’s not so popular these days, you may find a number of people off work if they’re participating in racing teams over this three-day holiday.

September: Zhong qiu (Mid-Autumn Festival)

This holiday celebrates a trio of interlinked principles which are prayer, thanksgiving or expressing gratitude and the gathering of family members. It’s of enormous personal importance to the Chinese people and has similar effects to that of the New Year celebration in February. If important business must happen around September, it’s best left at least 10 days before or after this holiday.

October: Guó Qíng Jié (China National Day)

Chinese National Day is celebrated on October 1st each year. On this date in 1949, chairman Mao Zedong officially announced the People's Republic of China while standing at Tian'anmen Gate. It’s common for goodwill gestures to be sent such as businesses wishing people well with full-page spread magazine advertisements. Other than that, there’s no business for around seven days, so don’t make any arrangements for the first week in October.

 

Considering global sourcing from China?

Increasingly, the huge potential savings on offer mean more businesses than ever are establishing supply chains in, and sourcing globally from countries such as China.

If you’re considering becoming one of them, but want to work with a business that has a local presence in this important country, contact us for a QuickLook Analysis today and find out how much money sourcing globally could save your business.

Canton Fair April & May 2015

If you or one of your clients is going to the Canton Fair later this month please let us know so we can see if there is anything we can do to help.

Here is a little more information about the fair for your interest.

The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is the oldest and most comprehensive trade event of its kind. It’s a showcase of more than 24,000 of China’s corporations. And it’s something your company may want to attend if it’s interested in partnerships with Chinese suppliers.

The Canton Fair is held each spring and fall in Guangzhou, China and includes a broad array of foreign trade companies, manufacturers, research institutes, private organizations, as well as foreign-invested and wholly foreign-owned companies. Since its inception in 1957, the fair has become a platform for the movers and shakers of China’s import and export industry.

The fair is an excellent way to get an appreciation of just how many products you can source from China.  If sourcing products direct from Chinese suppliers is on your radar for this year, or the near future, you should seriously consider making the trek for this biannual event.

While the fair is a great showcase we do not recommend it as the place to source long term supply partners as most of the exhibitors at the fair will be commission agents and distributors.  So visit the fair to get ideas and contacts then make sure you do your homework on the suppliers you intend to trust your business success with.

Navigating the Canton Fair and travels through China can be a challenge, especially for those who’ve never been to the country. Mawson Global can provide support before, during, and after travels to the country to companies in need of assistance. We can also act as a liaison during the fair and ensure your organization finds a long-term supplier, rather than a short term agent.

For more information on Mawson Global’s travel support services, as well as sourcing assistances, please visit our website or call 1300 723 246.

What the Chinese New Year Means for your Supplier

It’s the most important Chinese holiday of the year and one your supplier is likely looking forward to with great anticipation – Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year, known as Spring Festival in China, marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar year, the end of winter, and the first solar term of the Chinese year. This momentous cultural occasion is celebrated with festival that begins on the first day of the first month in the New Year and ends on the 15th day of the year. During this time, migrant workers return home and gather for huge family reunions during which they catch up, feast, and wish each other peace and happiness.

Given China’s significant internal travelers, special arrangements are made with the area’s various methods of transportation, including buses, railways, and airlines, beginning two weeks before the holidays. This time period is called “chunyun,” which literally means “transportation during Spring Festival.” It is the world’s largest annual migration, and it could impact your company’s bottom line if you’re unprepared.

Given the massive relocation of its people, traveling to China during its New Year can be a fruitless endeavor. Suppliers may be difficult to reach or completely inaccessible beginning two weeks prior to the holiday as their workforces head home. During the Chinese New Year, many offices will be closed. Factories may operate on different time schedules -- closing early in the day and reopening much later than usual. Some may even close the week before the New Year and remain closed for the duration of February.

If your company is reliant on Chinese suppliers, you need a plan to ensure your business continues to operate during the holiday.

Mawson Global, a leader in global sourcing, can work with your organization and its Chinese providers to ensure everyone is on the same schedule during the holiday season. The Mawson Global team understands the importance of this holiday to Asian suppliers, and it can help your organization avoid delays and disruptions to its business before, during, and after the Chinese New Year.

The Western holiday season may be over, but for our Eastern friends, the celebrations are just around the corner. This year, the festivities kick off right at the end of January. Make sure your suppliers can celebrate one of their favorite times of year and your business continues to run smoothly during the month February – contact Mawson Global for assistance with your global sourcing, marketing, and commerce solutions.

The Year of the Sheep/Goat & What It Means

You’ve probably heard a bit about the Chinese New Year. It falls on a different date to most other countries and is often discussed in conjunction with an animal. But how much do you really know about it?

For example, did you know that understanding this holiday is especially important for your business relationships?

Each year is represented by a different animal. And knowing what that animal represents means the difference between an embarrassing faux pas’ and a stronger relationship with your supplier.

This year, Tuesday 19th February marks the end of the year of the horse and the beginning of the year of the sheep, goat or ram. Lanterns will be lit and fireworks set off throughout China’s many great cities.

Read on to get the inside info you need to help your business relationships stay strong and productive over this important holiday.

What is the Chinese New Year?

First up, it’s good to know a bit about how the Chinese New Year is different to the Judeo-Christian holiday, and that means a very short history lesson. The Chinese calendar is thought to date back to the Han dynasty which was in power between 206BC and 220AD.

The calendar is a 12-year cycle with each year connected to an animal of the Chinese Zodiac. The zodiac, which is known as “Sheng Xiao”, features the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, with the wheel going round in that particular order.

Each animal is associated with one of five elements, earth, metal, wood, fire and water which are known collectively as “Wu Xing”. This coming new year is the year of the sheep, goat or ram depending on who you speak with, but the principles of these animals are essentially the same.

What it means for the business world

With the introduction of each new year in the Chinese calendar, there are different associations, qualities or characteristics based on the particular animal and element. If you know what these are, you’re in a better position to relate with and otherwise impress your Chinese business relations.

This year is especially important for global sourcing and supply chain management in general, because it’s a year when people will take extra care about what they do.

In a related tale from Chinese folklore, a boy named Lei who owned a large flock of sheep found a hole in his fence, but neglected to fix it. Shortly thereafter, Lei realised his flock was dwindling until only one sheep remained. Only after Lei fixed as a whole could his herd grow once again.

The moral of the story is, “don’t leave for tomorrow what can be done today and guard your assets carefully”. Translate this into a business context, and you can expect people to be especially vigilant when making business decisions.

Other background info that’s good to know

People born in the year of the sheep or goat are thought to be mild-mannered, gentle or even shy individuals who are stable, amicable and sympathetic with a strong sense of justice and kindheartedness.

Given the esoteric nature of astrological information, don’t go overboard trying to impress your suppliers with your zodiac knowledge because information sources do tend to conflict with one another.

One more point worth knowing is that, in spite of the apparently amicable characteristics of those born in goat or sheep years, multiple newspapers published coverage about how many Chinese families were avoiding becoming pregnant this year as babies born during the year of the sheep are thought to be less happy. If you know one of your suppliers has a new addition to the family due, it may be best not to talk about it, just in case.

The key takeaway

Ultimately, the key takeaway is that people will be especially vigilant when protecting assets this year. When involving yourself in business discussions, make sure you do it in such a way so as to communicate your mutual concern and appreciation for any time and/or money investment on the part of your suppliers and business partners. Oh, and it’s best to wait until early March before trying to close any major deals  as the holiday can be celebrated for up to two weeks.

The Year of the Horse and What It Means

The recent Chinese New Year has ushered in the Year of the Horse. This year’s Chinese New Year fell on Jan. 31, bringing the Year of the Snake to an end. Chinese New Year is China’s most significant holiday, kicking off a two-week period of celebrations around the country. Here’s a closer look at how the Chinese lunar calendar works, and what to expect in the year ahead.

China’s calendar is believed to have originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). It’s a 12-year cycle, and each year is connected to one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, features the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each animal is also associated with a specific element, such as fire, wood or water.

Different years carry different qualities, and understanding this can help you relate more effectively to your Chinese supplier. The Year of the Horse is generally regarded as a positive year, with people looking forward to success and happy events. The horse is a good omen in Chinese culture, and this carries through to the zodiac interpretation.

The Year of the Horse is particularly positive in the business world. It’s connected with leadership, decision making, and taking decisive action. There’s a focus on the successful conclusion to current ventures, and finishing things ahead of time. Profits are assured. The overtones of the year are happiness, good health and prosperity. The Year of the Horse is considered an excellent time to launch new things and an advantageous time to travel.

People born under the Year of the Horse are also believed to have many of these traits. They’re strong leaders with high levels of energy. Horses stay active, always seeking out new challenges and approaching life with an energetic zeal. They’re also natural performers and great with people. Whether it’s cultivating a one-on-one relationship or taking center stage, people born in the Year of the Horse are natural leaders, sales professionals and communicators.

The Chinese calendar offers a unique perspective. For companies doing business with China, it’s helpful to take the time to get to know the system and its implications for the year ahead. If you’re ready to connect with sourcing partners in China, contact Mawson Global today for assistance with your global sourcing needs.