Did the length of Chinese New Year shrink over time?

One thing about being busy is you don’t think of the big picture until all of a sudden you wake up and go “Huh”. Chinese New Year Holiday is just one week this year according to my wife. I think it has been that way for a couple of years now but…

When I first became a Forumosan I remember Chinese New Year was almost a month. Yes, we’d make trips back to the states. Some years I’d have to teach socalled “winter camp” at the cram school. People were whining about being bored on this very forum. I remember some years Chinese New Year were longer than others, sometimes shorter. What this just a dream. If some were longer and some were shorter, why? The lunar calandar just varies the date the holidays are celebrated. It should not change the length. Hanuka follows the Jewish Lunar calendar. It’s always 8 days no matter when it happens.

I guess it has something to do with us getting the five day work work. When I first arrived, when had a six and a half day work week, then we eventually were alternating between a 6-1/2 day work week and a 5 day work week. Finally we only had a five day work week. I think we also had a ton of holidays to break up this work under the 6-1/2 day work week set up.
So can someone fill us in on the details and give a historical perspective. Did this really happen or am I just hallucinating?

Iv always thought office staff only got five days? BEcause on the fifth day they let off firecrackers to start the new business year?

But a lot of factories were off ten days or even two weeks IIRC.

Depends on on which day it is … sometimes they add a weekend if CNY is on a Monday … or similar.

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This year seems especially short, what with the weekend at all.
Not that I mind, being poor.
Back to work!

This year is significantly shorter than the last couple of years.
Taiwan has among the least public holidays in the world, the vast majority of Taiwanese will go along with whatever the govt or big bosses tell them, and many would/do work everyday just to make some more money. See quote above for reference.

Taiwan has a stratified society with different ‘national benefits’ for different people. The government class has their own working conditions, pensions , benefits and national holidays.

m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2013/0 … ounces.htm

[quote=“headhonchoII”]This year is significantly shorter than the last couple of years.
Taiwan has among the least public holidays in the world, the vast majority of Taiwanese will go along with whatever the govt or big bosses tell them, and many would/do work everyday just to make some money.[/quote]

No doubt, a shocking state of affairs.
Yet, who can we blame?
DPP!
Crickey! Back in the day we had all those holidaze, most especially in the fall.

Blame ourselves (Taiwanese citizens), for not organizing and pushing for fairness.
The same citizens then unfairly treat SEAs …and so the cycle continues.

I think not.
When the DPP came in, they abolished much of the old KMT China era holidays.
What for?
There’s Whiskey in the Jar!

What for? Do you still want to celebrate CKS’s birthday?

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Silly Question.
Of course we do!
Hallow’s Eve!
Though we never had that off, it is indeed a welcome addition to wish list.

[quote=“TheGingerMan”]I think not.
When the DPP came in, they abolished much of the old KMT China era holidays.
What for?
There’s Whiskey in the Jar!


[/quote]

What happened is the government did a deal with big business to get the 5 day week by canceling most holidays (that and large hong baos sprang to the right people I am sure),

Of course the DPP cancelled Xmas and the KMT are only waiting on their chance to cancel 228, everybody will be a winner!

[quote=“headhonchoII”][quote=“TheGingerMan”]I think not.
When the DPP came in, they abolished much of the old KMT China era holidays.
What for?
There’s Whiskey in the Jar!


[/quote]

What happened is the government did a deal with big business to get the 5 day week by canceling most holidays (that and large hong baos sprang to the right people I am sure),

Of course the DPP cancelled Xmas and the KMT are only waiting on their chance to cancel 228, everybody will be a winner![/quote]

Don’t be silly.
The DPP thought they would wade in, too bad for the rest of us that they were dead wrong.

Just as a heads up, next year January 1st is the only public holiday that falls mid week, every other one falls on a Saturday or Sunday so we’ll have no mandatory days off. Chinese new year is only going to be 4 days as well, 2015 is going to suck!

How many countries in the world cancel public holidays if they fall on a weekend?

And that is why the economy is doing so well. :cactus:

Silly Question.
Of course we do!
Hallow’s Eve!
Though we never had that off, it is indeed a welcome addition to wish list.[/quote]
Just saying …

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In Belgium some politicians wanted to drop some Catholic holidays and add some Islamic, Jewish or something … not well received.

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And that is why the economy is doing so well. :cactus:[/quote]
Many married men don’t want to be at home with the wife and kids anyways, they’d rather stay at the office.

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And that is why the economy is doing so well. :cactus:[/quote]
Many married men don’t want to be at home with the wife and kids anyways, they’d rather stay at the office.

Responses to dumb posts were sent from my Nexus 7, I hate Apple BTW, with Tapatalk 8[/quote]

…which is why domestic violence is so high on Chinese New Year. sigh

And that is why the economy is doing so well. :cactus:[/quote]
Many married men don’t want to be at home with the wife and kids anyways, they’d rather stay at the office.

Responses to dumb posts were sent from my Nexus 7, I hate Apple BTW, with Tapatalk 8[/quote]

…which is why domestic violence is so high on Chinese New Year. sigh[/quote]

Reminds me of that CSNY song “If you can’t be with the one you love, beat your wife instead”.