Apple in China: Is there anything more exciting than purchasing an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) device for yourself or a loved one? Like many, this may be something that puts a big smile on your face. Believe it or not, there are people in China who love Apple more than you could ever imagine. This is the case, despite the fact that the country and tech giant have been a bit angry with one another lately.
If you don’t know anything about China’s annual Qingming Festival, or Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s presence in the country in general, there is no better time than now to learn. This festival is also known as “Tomb Sweeping Day,” a time during which the people of the country repair and clean the graves of loved ones.
Photo Credit: tsmall
As crazy as this may sound, it is a popular event in China.
At this point, you may be wondering what this has to do with Apple. For more insight, we don’t have to look any further than this NBC News piece about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the festival. The article explains the finer details of the event, and in addition to the usual repairs and cleaning, many leave behind gifts for those who have left the earth. This includes everything from food to fake money to liquor and much more.
Being that it is 2013, and technology has more or less taken over the world, many have begun to leave “cardboard representations of popular Apple products.” While it may not be the real thing, this is just one of the many things that shows how popular the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) brand has become over the years.
Did you know that Tomb Sweeping Festival became a national holiday in 2008? If you don’t think many people care about this, check out this stat from the article:
“Last year 520 million Chinese visited cemeteries – almost all bearing some kind of gift.”
With the people of China becoming more and more upscale with each passing year, it is only natural that fake Apple products would begin to show up. Here is some more information from the same NBC News piece, touching on the creation of these Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)-esque products:
“Jia Bo, 27, designs various cardboard imitations of high-end products and sells them online. He has everything that a Chinese person would dream to have in this life or the next: Lamborghinis, ocean view mansions, professional cameras and pets for companionship.”
While relatives are leaving many items behind for loved ones, replicas of Apple products are beginning to grow in popularity. As you can see, the Cupertino-based company can do more than bring joy to those who are living. Apple can do the same for the dead. To learn more about what else the company can do, check out our “world-famous” slideshow.
DISCLOSURE: I have no positions in any stock mentioned.
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