Source:Global Times Published: 2013-9-17 20:18:01
Editor's Note:
Are you up on what the hundreds of millions of Chinese netizens are talking about for Mid-autumn Festival? Take a moment and get the rundown of what's hot, what's trending, and what's drawing the most buzz on the Chinese blogosphere.
Calls to rid of 'gross' five-kernel mooncake
Some 30,000 Net users want production of the five-kernel mooncake stopped, saying that the traditional treat filled with nuts, seeds and dried fruit only goes to waste every year due to its horrible taste.
"Five-kernel mooncake, get out of the mooncake family," Net users on Chinese microblog Sina Weibo joked.
Many Net users said that the "most unpopular" traditional Chinese flavor of mooncake always gets thrown out.
"Since childhood we've been getting rid of them year after year," said a Net user. "They taste so damp and gross."
Chinese cartoonist Shi Tuzi's sketches of a double yolk mooncake depicted as a sexy woman in a yellow bikini and a five-kernel mooncake as an ugly, muddy monster with nuts all over its body has been widely circulated online.
But some Net users said that the five-kernel mooncake isn't all bad as it represents kindness, righteousness, politeness, wisdom and trust in traditional Chinese culture - adding that modern twists on mooncakes, which include filling the treats with chocolate or candy, should instead be "put in the garbage."
'Messy' public holiday schedule unpopular
The close proximities of Mid-autumn Festival and National Day have left many Net users confused and irritated over the "messy" work schedule the holidays have created in China this year.
Mid-autumn Festival delivers a three-day public holiday starting September 19, but employees need to make up for the time off by returning to work for six consecutive days. Workers will then be rewarded for their long hours with one day off on September 28, before coming back to work for two days, on September 29 and 30 - just ahead of the seven-day National Day holiday that starts on October 1.
"The alarm clock is going to have to think long and hard before ringing," Net users joked, referring to the complicated holiday hours.
"I've had to circle the days on the calendar so I know when to show up at work," said an office worker, adding that the holiday schedule meant to allow people time to relax has instead created more stress.
But some Net users said that the holiday schedule could also be seen as a blessing in disguise, calculating that if a worker had used 11 days of annual leave from September 14, he or she could maximize time off by combining the holidays to secure the ultimate, mega holiday of 24 days.
Others, however, said that taking extra days off around the holidays is not an option for everyone.
"My boss won't let me take advantage of the holidays like that," said a worker surnamed Chen. "Some employees are also worried that taking additional days off will make them look lazy or greedy to the boss."
Global Times