The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-07-11
AN ORIENTAL FESTIVAL.
now THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS
CELEBRATED.

foreign missionary in China to have
lie holiday season twice. He may, II
de will, take notice of his own holi-
DAYS; he must notice the Chinese holi-
DAYS. The holiday season in America
centers around both Christmas and
New Years. The holiday season IN
China centers around New Years.
According to the Chinese mode of
reckoning, the year began February s.
For weeks before the time the Chinese
begin to show great preparations for
this, the leading event of each year.
Stores are more fully and prettily sup
piled; business has more life. Pur-
chases are made either for the purpose
of presents, or TO keep a full supply
during the days that all shops will be
closed.
If 1 should describe this festival,
which not only extends through New
Years day, but through a week or two
following it, should first Of all call it
The Sabbath. 1t is a time of rest.
There is a change of work, thought
and spirit. The multitude that has
been steadily plodding along for month
after month, with no diversity or re-
taxation, at last pauses, gives up its
usual style Of life, and seeks, like few
modern philosophers, for happiness.
Every enc must have laid by good
store of provisions, for now all shops
are closed. Only the poorest are at
work. The richer the man, the longer
he is freed from his customary employ
ment. This is the style. Again l
would call it the Fourth of July of
China. Firecrackers are fired at
night, because it is dark, and
fired by day. because it is light.
: An old man will be seen coming
out Of his house, will light in front of
his door long string of these fire.
crackers, and thus the evil spirits are
to te kept away. The priest comes
forth from his gods and altar, and out
under the open sky sends up loud and
brilliant fireworks. 1t is hard to tell
whether he delights in it, more because
he is g priest than because he is man.
If foreigners wish to sleep on New
Years eve they must seek to be "dull
Of hearing" This festival is the Sun
day of China. The Chinaman now not
only rests, but worships. And this
time the public worship in the temple
is rendered by men. Before the sun
rises on New Years day the family is
gathered together, worship is per-
formed to heaven and earth, then to
the family gods, then to the
deceased ancestors, and then the
younger members make their prostra-
tions to the older members. After this
family worship, with proper presenta-
ton Of gifts, the men may be seen
going Into the temples, to burn incense,
leave their gifts before the altar, and
amid the sound of the drum, gong and
bell, and the song of the priest, per-
haps, bow before their favorite idols.
The heather begins his new year With
thanksgiving and petition. This fes-
tiyal is furthermore the pay day of the
Chinese. AT least all debts must be
settled satisfactorily before the old
year has gone. If, perchance, any have
failed to settle up their accounts with
their creditors, they will be found
fastening around next morning with
lighted lanterns, to show that the
work Of the pasts night has not
yet been finished. If they have
nothing at all wherewith to pay,
the creditor may enter the debtors
house, and take or destroy to his hearts
content. While many are never, even
in China, out of debt, very few but have
made a satisfactory settlement. And
amid all the debts, the more deYout
Chinese do not fail torecall their debts
to the gods; and by gifts and prayer
these debts are also settled. This New
Years day is also the birthday ami
versary Of every Chinese. If child is
born only few days before the close of
the one year, at the beginning hei two
years old. If the Chinese have seen
twenty-five years, they are twenty-five
years old. Every person is one year
older when the new year begins. Every
home is celebrating its own happiness,
and especially the happiness Of the lit
tie children. AS the boy is of more
worth than the girl, it may be easily
imagined how great person is the
small boy" This season is also a
memorial season. If any home dur
ing the past year has been
visited by death, the remaining
members of the household recall the
sad day, and in meditation stay quietly
at home While all homes and shops
and stores are at this time decked with
new paper signs and mottoes of red,
thus symbolizing a new year as yet
unstaincd, the houses of mourning
paste up against the gateway or door,
way some motto written on paper that
is blue, and sometimes white, both of
which are signs of mourning, instead
OF black. This period is introduced
by a gene, a. wash day. The doors
door ills, floors and garments, are all
cleaned. Better than all, every person
takes a bath. This is all the more an
important event in the lives of many
from its occurrence on'y once q
year. Having thus been made