Badminton on Public Holidays

Holidays are approaching but do you know which country has the most number of public holidays PH for you to play badminton?

Surprisingly, it is Hong Kong, which has 17 days! That's what my 2004 Desk Diary, a gift from a company which wants to launch its shares to the public, tells me, although only 25 countries, excluding populous India and Indonesia, are shown. To think that Cheung has complained so often about the lack of time to play badminton is quite an irony! We have only 11 PH in Singapore. Maybe, Cheung has to work on most PH?

Germany is second with 16 days, followed closely by Austria, Taiwan and Thailand with 15. Japan, Malaysia and South Korea have 14 PH. Denmark and Sweden, 13; Norway, Switzerland and US, 12; Belgium, France and S'pore, 11; Australia, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia and the Philippines, 10.

The more "hardworking" countries with less than 10 PH include Canada (9), UK (8) and surprise, surprise, China with the lowest PH at 7 days! It seems that the world's most populous nation is also the most hardworking. But don't let these statistics deceive you. Workers in China are allowed to take afternoon naps, I understand, and productivity levels may not be that high!

And do you know which event of the year is the most celebrated? Of course you are right - it is New Year's Day, Jan 1, although the Taiwanese call it "Founding of the Republic of China".

Just around the corner on 25th, Christmas Day, is the second-most celebrated event in the sample, although Christianity is not the dominant religion in some of these countries. The Russians have a different version called "Orthodox Christian Christmas Day" which they observe on Jan 7th. And, quite understandably, communist China, does not have this event in their calendar nor does it have other religious holidays as religion is tabooed in China. So too are Japan and Thailand, largely Buddhists countries. But other countries which practise Buddhism like HK, Malaysia, S'pore, South Korea and Taiwan are more open, for they also celebrate Christmas.

Many of the European countries adopt the Christian faith and apart from Christmas, they also observe other Christian events like "Whit" on May 30 and 31, (7th day after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost), which is more popular than "Epiphany", Jan 6, (any manifestation of a god...), celebrated in Austria, Germany, Italy and Sweden. "Maundy Thursday", April 8, which I believe is related to Christianity, perhaps more towards Catholicism since the Philippines, a non-European Catholic country, influenced by the Spanish culture, also observes that day apart from Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

All of us, who are workers or will become one in the near future, would have thought that "Labour Day", May 1, just like New Year's Day, should rightly be celebrated throughout the world, but alas, the fact is some countries don't. These odd-ball countries include Denmark, Japan (they have Labour Thanksgiving Day on Nov 23), Netherlands, South Korea and Taiwan. Some countries chose a different day like Canada, Sep 6; UK, May 3 and the US, Sep 6.

But perhaps a more unique situation is observed in Malaysia and Singapore. Multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious in character, these two countries respect the cultures of the three main groups and other minorities and allow them to observe events important to them, such as the following:

Malays & Muslims - Hari Raya Haji (Feb 1), Hari Raya Puasa (Nov 14)
Chinese - Chinese or Lunar New Year (Jan 22 & 23)
Indians - Deepavali (Nov 11)
Europeans & Christians - Christmas

Buddhists - Vesak Day (Jun 2)

So, if you're in dire need for more days for badminton, join Cheung in Hong Kong!

Anyway, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL BFers" and may the Year of the Monkey(?) be less tricky and more enjoyable for our badminton game!

 

Sorry to disappoint you, Dlp, but China has only 7 PH versus UK's 8! China doesn't celebrate any religious events. The Chinese allocate 3 days for Chinese NY and 2 days for their National Day, with the remaining 2 for New Year's Day and International Labour Day.

The UK, on the other hand is a Christian country and therefor provided 3 days for Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas. But "Spring Bank and Summer Bank Holidays" don't make much sense in most of the other countries in the sample. Maybe, being one of the world's most prominent financial centres, the UK wants to reward its bankers more than the others.

Yes, I agree that the PH for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year do not provide much relief to badminton fanatics in the UK because of the extreme cold and sports centres have to shut down. All the more you should join Cheung. Hopefully, HK is not as cold, otherwise you are welcome to join us in M'sia or S'pore, which enjoy fair weather all round the year!

 

Yes, I can understand the position in Taiwan. With about 70% of our own population being Chinese, actually Chinese New Year is the most celebrated in Singapore, in the sense that more people (both young and old) are engaged in the festivities, house visitations, reunion dinners, outings, etc. I suppose Taiwan is similar and Double Ten, Oct 10 is another significant event, just like our National Day celebrations on August 9. Indeed, one may not be able to book a badminton court on CNY day or on Re-union Dinner evening. But then, many will be too involved to think of badminton?

But our ND is also unique in that all our three major races and the minority groups, in other words the entire country, observe and participate in organized activities like the National Day Parade, a very colourful event involving many uniformed/military and civic groups, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the holding of community dinners, etc. Attendance at the ND Parade is so popular that tickets have to be balloted nowadays and it is like striking a lottery if you are able to get one! Last time people used to queue up overnight, camping at the ticket-venues, just to make sure the family gets a chance to witness the parade.

Actually, after the 9/ll disaster, our government realized the great importance of bonding our three major racial groups since a good proportion of our people (about 20%) belong to the Muslim faith, which unfortunately was indirectly blamed. Thankfully, a good majority of our Muslim countrymen belong to the moderate groups, not the extremists, and our government is taking active steps to educate the public on such issues and to encourage the Muslim leaders to come forward to denounce terrorism and to ensure that teachers of the religion are registered and approved by their leaders. We are succeeding but are always on the alert to possible terrorist threats.

New Year's Day, Jan 1, is highly commercialized. In a way we follow the West in its celebrations and the tradition of staying up late and counting the time to midnight and the dawn of another new year, as they all do in Times Square. The TV has influenced young minds and taught them what and how to do. All-night parties, buffet lunches and dinners cater mainly to the young. I'm surprised to learn that Taiwan is not into it in a big way.

And except for the Christians, Christmas is also largely commercialized to cater to the entertainment needs of mainly the young and the yuppies as another outlet to spend the holidays.

 

Thanks Stuart, I suppose being the capital, Canberra has special privileges. I recalled that that Administrative Capital is a rather quiet place compared with the buzz of Gold Coast, Sydney and even Melbourne. But it is also an elite sports centre, I believe.

Whilst looking at the Commonwealth countries, Australia and NZ stand out because only they celebrate the Queen's Birthday, whereas even in UK, the event is not offically included in the calendar.

And of course your Anzac Day. There must be a special relationship between Australia and New Zealand. Can you enlighten us why they both observe this day?

 

So I suppose mainly the military personnel observe this special event?

Do they expand the occasion to involve the public? If they do, what sort of activities are included?

 

Stuart

Thanks again for the trouble. Sorry, but I don't dig what you meant by "...and play 'two-up' at local RSL's." RSLs must be quite common down under, but it doesn't ring a bell here.