2011 Dec 10 China 2012 Holiday Dates Announced
The official holidays for 2012 have finally been announced. Who doesn’t love a mandatory day off? Especially when you're asked to work on the weekends (around a seven-day work week) to “earn” those vacations. If you’re wise, you'll take advantage of the time off for a trip home or beach holiday. Here are the dates so you can start planning.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Days off: January 1-3
Work day: Saturday, December 31, 2011
Translation: We'll get Sunday-Tuesday off, but we'll be asked to work a six-day work week beforehand. It's essentially a long weekend, slightly shifted.
SPRING FESTIVAL
Days off: January 22-28
Work days: Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 29
Translation: We get seven consecutive days off, but "earn" two of those days with weekend work. In other words, a seven-day holiday is bookended by two six-day work weeks.
QING MING (TOMB SWEEPING) FESTIVAL
Days off: April 2-4
Work days: Saturday, March 31-Sunday, April 1
Translation: We can play all day Monday-Wednesday because we've spent the prior weekend in the office (i.e. a seven-day work week).
LABOR DAY
Days off: April 29-May 1
Work day: Saturday, April 28
Translation: Another shifted three-day weekend (Sunday to Tuesday) following a six-day work week.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Days off: June 22-24
No extra work day
Translation: A traditional long weekend (Friday-Sunday)
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL & NATIONAL DAY
Days off: September 30-October 7
Work day: Saturday, September 29
Translation: These two get morphed into one (because the Mid-Autumn Festival, based on the lunar calendar, happens to fall at the end of September in 2012 – while National Day is always at the start of October). We get an extra day off for Mid-Autumn Festival, which is used to cancel out one of the two weekend work days we'd otherwise have to "earn." In a nutshell: an eight-day vacation and only one Saturday shift.
Photo: kyledesigns.com
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