The journey of a Christmas snowflake

Every shiny plastic Christmas snowflake you see in Macy's in Manhattan or London's Oxford Street in December may have gone through a long journey across the ocean.

In fact, more than 60 percent of Christmas ornaments are produced in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.

Earlier this year, Lao Wei, who is from Xingyi, Guizhou province, heard from a town resident that he could earn 3,000 yuan a month if he worked in Yiwu. He immediately decided to move his wife and son and work in a factory producing Christmas ornaments.

"I never thought I would be making this small stuff: plastic stars, snowflakes, red hats and socks," says Lao, who admits that he has no idea how these things are used.

Lao and his son Xiao Wei work at one facility to spray paint the ornaments, while Lao's wife works in an adjacent assembly factory. Being together makes them feel like they're not far from home, Lao says.

Their wages are determined by the number of ornaments they paint or assemble. Father and son can make 5,000 stars every day and each earn more than 3,000 yuan a month.

Xiao Wei says his busy work schedule doesn't even allow him to get a simple haircut.

"But my hair is dyed red by the powder in the workshop. Isn't that chic?" Xiao Wei says.

They have no idea what Christmas means, let alone that the plastic in their hands will finally become festive decorations in the eyes of customers.

"Maybe it's the Spring Festival for Westerners," Lao Wei says.

He says they will work hard until Dec 25, at which time they will go back to their hometown for a vacation.

(China Daily Africa Weekly  12/12/2014 page4)