As this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival fell on a Tuesday, many believed it would be an extended holiday, only to be disappointed when they learned that it would not be. However, a festival without an extended holiday is actually quite nice as well.
First, without an extended holiday, we do not need to worry about making up school or work. Everyone is already accustomed to having two days off each weekend. In the past, many people complained when they only had one day off for two consecutive weeks to make up for an extended holiday. After this festival, we are already back to our normal routine, without any missing classes or work days to account for later. What is not to like?
Second, extended holiday often mean traffic jams everywhere. Whether you are going to visit friends or taking a short trip, you do not have to worry about getting stuck on the road. Every time there has been an extended holiday in the past, many people would swarm to certain popular or scenic spots, leading to intense traffic that makes it very difficult to reach your destination. If you do manage to arrive, you are met with an ocean of bobbing heads in a place jam-packed with tourists and vehicles. It ruins the fun of sightseeing. However, without an extended holiday, people tend to stick to places closer to home, where there is much less traffic. It is a much more enjoyable and relaxing experience.
Lastly, without a long holiday, there is no need to create a huge list of plans or travel arrangements. This is also nice, as it results in a more leisurely and satisfying break from school or work. The government’s original intention in arranging extended holidays was to provide citizens with a longer vacation. In theory, this makes it more convenient for people to travel to places that are further away.
However, the reality is that longer vacations to more distant destinations often end with people feeling exhausted. This completely defeats the original purpose of a vacation, which is to replenish your mental and physical batteries.
Why not just take one day off and spend time with family, or go to a scenic spot near your home for a walk? This way, you can strengthen your relationships and relax your mind — the true purpose of a vacation. If you have the chance, why not kill two birds with one stone?
To celebrate last Tuesday’s festival, I accompanied my family on a hike along Cuishan Trail (翠山步道), which was near our home. We were able to get there with just a short bus trip, and our hike earned us a total of ten thousand steps. At the top, the autumn sky was clear and the air was brisk — we could even see the Guandu Plain (關渡平原) and Datun Mountain range (大屯山) in the distance.
Though just a short, half-day trip, our excursion was really great. This year’s festival was both relaxing and satisfying. Despite the absence of an extended holiday, the moon was full and so was the group of people around me — what a wonderful moment.
Tsai Jr-keng is a retired elementary-school principal.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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