Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-07
CHINAMEN GREETING rae SPRING
Remembering tIsY bend I;efo.'e tIsc Feast i,s
Honor Of {9joHgI,jsg Time.
An Wong IN New York SUM-

Sunday, April l, is the twenty
of the Cinnamon, and it is their
national holiday, inasmuch as it is the
day fixed by their astronomers, thousands
of years ago, as the day upon which to
pillow the field and SOW the seed of grains
the opening of the spring. The emperor
Of China, it is said, upon this particular
day, dons the garment of farmer and
rolls up his sleeves, and plunges into the
mysteries of husbandry with all the spirit
of true industry Ito show his subjects how
to work.. This is the day when universal
husbandry is declared open; from now
until fall not an inch of valuable soil is to
be left untitled"
And this is also the day to invoke bless
ings from Supreme Heaven that He may
prosper and protect all their humble eff
forts; and this is the day when the departed
friends are generously remembered by
those who are still this side of the ''Black
Sea-" Their spirits are invoked by these
to aid them by their influence over the
gods over the other side. Thus the Chinese
here to-day made grand and expensive
preparations to celebrate the spring holi-
dead, this preparation having been in pro-
gress by many ever since Saturday, and
consequently by II ann. this yesterday
morning they were ready for business.
A dozen or so carriages were called in
front of Yuet Sing 81 Co.'S Chinese grocery
store, 204 Chatham street, at IL O'Clock
this morning, and seeing which your cor
respondent Immediately secured a similar
mo ruha he
procession slowly and mournfully wan
dered their way down to the foot of Cath
crime street, there to take the ferry to
Brooklyn, thence to Evergreen cemetery,
amid crowds of awe-struck lockers on, won
dering what all that meant, for as one of
them expressed: at neither looked like a
funeral procession nor a political strike of
the Sixth ward" There was no hearse at
the head except a huge well loaded two
horse wagon carrying roasted pigs, chickens
and countless other highly seasoned and
aromatical delicacies of Oriental designs;
which to an unknown observer it would
have been taken for camp-meeting or
picnic's getting up.
On our arrival at the destination of this
gorgeous religious celebration, about two
hundred Cinnamon were already there.who
had evidently got ahead of US from other
parts Of Chinatown, to participate in the
services.
The wagon was quietly unIaden By
dozen or SO neatly attired Cinnamon, for
upon this occasion all Cinnamon ap-
peared at their best, to present themselves
before the gods and the spirits of their
friends only once year. The expensive
viands were then carefully spread before
the graves of each dead friend Before
the freshly made graves of the two Moy
brothers who have lately died in this city
were spread sumPtuous feast OF one
whole roasted pig, weighing at least 100
pounds, besides dozens of roasted fowls,
about seventy-fve pounds of various kinds
of cakes,sweet meats imported from China,
wines and teas.
For q moment all was silent, when Mr..
Yuet Sing-the head of the firm of Yuet
Sing Il Co., a venerable looking old gen
tleNlan Of small stature, slowly advanced.
taking hold OF a bunch IF curiously cut
yellOWish paper in one hand and lit i by
burning candle and threw it before the
roasted pig, etc. And Immediately he
lights bunch Of joss sticks of fragrant
odor; after gracefully making three sslu- !
tary bows he sticks one end of which into !
the ground near the spot OF the burning
paper, and falls Immediately upon his |
knees and began by bowling very low !
while il that position until his forward |
nearly touched the ground, three times. |
And an attendant hands him small cup |
OF wine which, after he made the usually |
salutary bows, he With 3 swayiDg motion !
poared it upon the ground and again he !
bows three times, which concludes mis- part !
CT the ceremony. Then the hosts OF other !
attendants, friends of the parted,c came one !
by one to do homage and respect to their
desd friends. Afterward the Tiards are
again gathered and brought back home in
the same wagon, when general feast will
be given among themselves.