Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-14
THE CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA.
Holiday fn she Chinese QuarteF-Th
New Year

Holiday fa she Chinese QuRrter-The
New Year.
A writer in the Overland Month
" writes an entertaining account of
the holidays observed by the Chi.
nese in California. The Chinaman
has many holidays. Weddings and
funerals are occasions for rest and
for feasting. There are saints
days, or birth days of the gods,
many times more than enough to
fill all the days of the calendar
and whenever any person or family
feels religiously inclined, or can at
ford the time Or expense, they may,
in China, hear Of gatherings at
some one Or other Of their numerous
temples. The first and fifteenth of
every month are observed by many
as religious seasons. More people
resort to the temples at these periods
than at others.
The times of the vernal and au-
tumnal equinoxes, and of the win
ter and summer solstices, are noted
by the Chinese, when more than
usual activity is observed about the
temples; more people than usual
are seen in the streets with the
sticks of incense, gilt paper, candles
and other offerings, on their way to
the shrines of the gods. Ances-
tors and household divinities are
especially remembered at these
seasons.
In China the people have no Sab
bath, but in this country they con
form, in some measure, to the Gus
toms of the people. In the mines
many work steadily on through the
Sabbath, the same as on other days,
while others initiate the example OF
too mary of cur miners, and take
the day for cleaning up their gold,
and for washing, mending, mar,
keting, bargaining and adjusting
accounts. Labcrers in the employ
ment of those who keep the Sab
bath, often take the day for visiting
gambling, opium smoking, for wash
my and mending, or for wall
about the town while few 60 t.
their church, or assemble at the
.ghools established for them. There
Is some reading done on this day
with much writing Of letters, and ;
large amount OF sleeping; while
with the merchants it is a day toI
collections and for writing up then
accounts.
The feast OF lanterns, the festiva
of the dragon boats, and the sea
SON for kite flying, together with
many other noted days, are al
marked in their almanacs, and q
the almanac is q book which is KEEP
within the reach OF every China
man and constantly consulted, ther
is hardly a possibility of any 0
these festival days being entirel
forgotten. Though none Of thes
festivals are celebrated TO the eS
tent that they are at home an
some Of them scarcel y at all in
public manner, yet the recurrenC
of the day, and the thought
friends in the tatherland, and
the manner in which they are pr
badly occupying or amusing then
= selves, awaken 4 desire, more
less strong, TO sympathise wi
them and TO engage in similar Ger
monies or sports.
THE NEW YEAR.
Chief of their holidays, no
ever, or rather that which eclips
all the rest, is the festival of Il
New Year. On this occasion
China abandons itself to merr
making, one fen dc joie resoun
throughout the empire; from nor
10 south, from east TO west, t
country is wreathed in clouds
smoke perfumed with incense or
den with the smell of powder: VIII
every habitation in the land, fri
the Emperor's palace to the b,
CARS shed, will look gay with
red and tinselled paper futter
in the breeze; servants will be n
ming to and fro everywhere, in
city and country, distributing