Page 8 - January 2015 Newsletter online
P. 8
By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer
CNY Chinese New Year Not Just In China Anymore
HONG KONG — Decades ago the — CHINESE ABROAD ulike in China, San Francisco work-
Chinese New Year holiday, also The holiday is celebrated by Chi- ers will take just two or three days
known as Spring Festival, had little nese communities around the off, said Lee. “We can’t follow
impact outside of China. But as the world. In San Francisco, where China’s system because the cost of
country gained outsized economic about one in five residents is of shutting down for many days here
influence, the holiday, which has Chinese descent, the celebration is a lot higher than in China,” he
enormous cultural significance in is stretched over a few weeks, said. Lee said many grocery stores
the Chinese-speaking world, has with fairs, beauty queens, ba- and other shops close for two or
become more prominent. This is zaars, lion dances and deafening three days but a handful remain
how it ripples around the world. firecrackers in Chinatown. The open to tend to the tourists who
— FACTORY FREEZE festivities culminate in the San flock to the downtown neighbor-
Chinese factories shut down for Francisco Chinatown Chinese hood for a glimpse of China.
the holiday and then some, with New Year Parade, complete with The festivities have also embraced
hundreds of millions of migrant feisty 270-foot-long (82 meters) foreign culture.
workers heading to their home- dragon. It’s such a big deal that For example, the traditional red
towns, part of the world’s largest schools close for the holiday. envelopes, usually decorated with
mass movement of people. In the Pius Lee, chairman of the city’s gold Chinese letters, are sold by
lead up to the holiday, factories Chinatown Neighborhood As- Chinatown merchants with pictures
run flat out to fill orders before sociation, said its Chinese New of Pokemon and Disney characters.
shutting. The holiday itself runs Year celebrations resemble New York dazzled crowds with
from Feb. 18 to 24 this year, but those in Hong Kong and Shang- a 20-minute fireworks display
workers start setting off as much as hai, especially the parades and Tuesday over the Hudson River
two weeks earlier on packed trains family reunions where food organized by the China Central
and buses. After the holiday they is abundant and children get Academy of Fine Arts, which said it
may take the same amount of time red envelopes filled with crisp was the first time the holiday had
to return, or not. The holiday is a “lucky” dollar bills. its first major celebration outside
prime occasion to switch jobs. of China.
It all means an annual headache
for retailers and importers over-
seas who rely on China. Shipping
companies warn customers that
China’s transport and logistics
networks are at capacity and their
shipments must be at ports two
weeks ahead of the holiday to
stand a chance of getting on a boat
before the country shuts down.
This year, shipping delays are com-
pounded by a slowdown at U.S.
West Coast ports.
8
CNY Chinese New Year Not Just In China Anymore
HONG KONG — Decades ago the — CHINESE ABROAD ulike in China, San Francisco work-
Chinese New Year holiday, also The holiday is celebrated by Chi- ers will take just two or three days
known as Spring Festival, had little nese communities around the off, said Lee. “We can’t follow
impact outside of China. But as the world. In San Francisco, where China’s system because the cost of
country gained outsized economic about one in five residents is of shutting down for many days here
influence, the holiday, which has Chinese descent, the celebration is a lot higher than in China,” he
enormous cultural significance in is stretched over a few weeks, said. Lee said many grocery stores
the Chinese-speaking world, has with fairs, beauty queens, ba- and other shops close for two or
become more prominent. This is zaars, lion dances and deafening three days but a handful remain
how it ripples around the world. firecrackers in Chinatown. The open to tend to the tourists who
— FACTORY FREEZE festivities culminate in the San flock to the downtown neighbor-
Chinese factories shut down for Francisco Chinatown Chinese hood for a glimpse of China.
the holiday and then some, with New Year Parade, complete with The festivities have also embraced
hundreds of millions of migrant feisty 270-foot-long (82 meters) foreign culture.
workers heading to their home- dragon. It’s such a big deal that For example, the traditional red
towns, part of the world’s largest schools close for the holiday. envelopes, usually decorated with
mass movement of people. In the Pius Lee, chairman of the city’s gold Chinese letters, are sold by
lead up to the holiday, factories Chinatown Neighborhood As- Chinatown merchants with pictures
run flat out to fill orders before sociation, said its Chinese New of Pokemon and Disney characters.
shutting. The holiday itself runs Year celebrations resemble New York dazzled crowds with
from Feb. 18 to 24 this year, but those in Hong Kong and Shang- a 20-minute fireworks display
workers start setting off as much as hai, especially the parades and Tuesday over the Hudson River
two weeks earlier on packed trains family reunions where food organized by the China Central
and buses. After the holiday they is abundant and children get Academy of Fine Arts, which said it
may take the same amount of time red envelopes filled with crisp was the first time the holiday had
to return, or not. The holiday is a “lucky” dollar bills. its first major celebration outside
prime occasion to switch jobs. of China.
It all means an annual headache
for retailers and importers over-
seas who rely on China. Shipping
companies warn customers that
China’s transport and logistics
networks are at capacity and their
shipments must be at ports two
weeks ahead of the holiday to
stand a chance of getting on a boat
before the country shuts down.
This year, shipping delays are com-
pounded by a slowdown at U.S.
West Coast ports.
8
