Has Chinese New Year Become an Unofficial Holiday?

A person burns paper during Chinese New Year in Phnom Penh. Photo by Leng Spheanith.

Chinese New Year celebrates the lunar cycle and is observed by Chinese communities, including in Cambodia. Although it isn’t a national holiday, many take leave during the festivities. This trend raises the question of its unofficial recognition as a public holiday. Analysts say this tradition influences workplaces and schools.

Although used to the occasion, Bo Sambath, an English teacher at a high school in Takeo province, said the tradition affected classes because teaching only a few students while the rest were absent was not efficient. 

A minority of teachers held exams on the day to prevent absences, which Sambath found undoable because it could put pressure on students. However, he was flexible in his teaching.  

“I don’t mean I support them to be absent during the Chinese New Year but most Cambodians have followed this for centuries,” Sambath said. 

“That’s why it’s not easy to eliminate it. If many students come to join my class, my class will process as usual, but if not, we decide to have no class.” 

Some people need to take leave on the day to celebrate, which involves praying and dedicating foods and drinks as a ritual for their ancestors. Workers are also entitled to request leave if they have valid reasons, especially those with Chinese ancestors. 

Meng Chansereypich, a senior student from the Royal University of Fine Arts, said students had to choose between school and home for the tradition as their presence was demanded at both. 

However, it depends on which one is more necessary.

“If I have an exam on that same day, then I go to school and take the exam. If not, I might compromise by leaving class early or choosing to skip it altogether,” she said. 

“But I do arrive before lunchtime, so I could at least light some incense sticks.” 

Exams put pressure on students because, traditionally, their presence is necessary for the celebration, and they believe they can foresee their luck in the upcoming year. As a result, students are placed in a position to compromise their class and their parents’ demands. 

“So, when teachers throw exams at us to force our attendance, it puts students like me in a hard place: should we risk it or should we listen to our parents, tradition, religion, belief?” she said. 

From another aspect, the celebration is not all about the tradition but also about the reasonable time for a family reunion after a challenging year of work. Red packets, wish exchanges and family gatherings are among the main ideas of Chinese New Year. 

On the other hand, Chansereypich also thinks it’s unfair for teachers to show up in an empty class because some students, without Chinese ancestors, were absent due to laziness. At the same time, they cannot be absent without problems from the higher-ups. 

The issue of celebrating Chinese New Year and other foreign cultural practices has long been discussed. 

Some pointed out that this isn’t about the beliefs and customs but how they are observed. Increasingly, people regard these days as unofficial public holidays, adding more breaks to Cambodia's already high number of official holidays. 

Cambodia is second in the region after Indonesia in terms of public holidays. The main concern is the effect on labor productivity from the many holidays. 

Chhort Bunthang, a researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, noticed that the celebration was as big as Khmer New Year and New Year's Eve. 

"Some people, including the governmental officials, celebrate Khmer New Year by only going to their hometown, but mostly focus on gathering rather than practicing the cultures of the celebration, which is kind of weird because they celebrate the Chinese New Year more significantly now," he said. 

Legally, the country allows its people to practice other religions as well, similar to how Cambodians celebrate their cultural events in various countries. 

Therefore, it doesn't matter much for those of Chinese descent. Meanwhile, some individuals are misled into believing that celebrating the Chinese New Year will bring fortune to their families, even if they are not of related heritage.  

“This doesn't trigger discrimination, but it is viewed as unreasonable because they don't need to do it,” Bunthang said. 

“The national cultural celebration should dominate other religions to show that we do care about our cultures and that we are not based on foreignism.”  

Pa Chanroeun, a social analyst and president of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, said people, including public servants, took Chinese New Year as unofficial holidays.

Public services could be hindered if most officials took leave or because “they were related.” 

“This should be acknowledged on an individual basis rather than at the national level to prevent any inconvenience to the public," Chanroeun said.

Cambodianess

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