People from Hong Kong say a person in a bad mood has the "face of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year" - the result of returning to work after three days of rest.

Of course, the Shanghainese, after a week's holiday, also feel unhappy about returning to work. Most people say they miss the Spring Festival a great deal.

They especially miss being able to sleep late without the worry of going to work in the morning. As a matter of fact, I know one particularly lazy person who slept from midnight until the following evening. If it had not been for the good smell of dinner, he would have kept on sleeping.

Another perk of this time of year is the yearly bonus. With pockets full of money, everyone is eager to get out and shop on the holidays.

From February 9 to 14, the city's 210 leading retailers realized sales of 2.03 billion yuan ($244.5 million) with an increase of 12.4 percent compared with the same period last year.

It is said that Chinese traditional costumes have become very trendy, attributed partly to the recent Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Shanghai.

The only ones feeling disappointed this holiday were maybe the wedding ceremony companies. Last Spring Festival, the wedding market was red hot. But this February 14, the third day of the Lunar New Year, a well-known wedding photographer's only received three new couples.

A storekeeper pointed out that according to tradition, it is not auspicious to marry in the Year of the Horse.

( China Daily February 21, 2002)