Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-23

Next Sunday commences what IL
commonly called Chinese New Year."
bat what in reality il simply the cele-
bration Of the ninth anniversary of the
ascension - the throne of Qu0nR Sue.
the present child Emperor Of China.
For the purpose Of gathering some in
formation ON this subject, Posi- INTEL
LIaKScKR reporter called at the store of
Wa Chong d Co. yesterday afternoon,
and from Gee Hes, q very intelligent
Chinaman and a member Of the above
named firm, the new Ratherer got the
following statement, which will be road
with interest: 1.-The Chinese King, or
Emperor, is a little fellow, now only
about ton years old. Min, years ago
next Saturday his father died, and be.
Of course, had 70 be King. II 10 Gus
tomary with our people all over tho
world, and especially in CHINA, TO oel,-
brate the anniversary of the day on
which King Ia first crowned, and We
Gall that New Years. So, you see, We
now celebrate the 9th Of January but
when we have another King, we'll have
another day. In keeping books We put
down the Kings name, the year of his
reign, the month and day. The China
name for the day il Sun nane,' or
Yet naue,' which simply means the
first day. We generally keep our oele-
bration up for q week, and everybody
knows what We do: First. in the
morning We exchange greetings, the
same an American people do on their
New Years morning. We have cafds.
make calls and have general good
time. We also beat RonRs, make music
and burn a great many hrscrackers
We don't burn firecrackers like
Americans do-a few at a time We
burn barrels and barrels of them at one
time. Our firm alone will burn several
undred dollars worth of crackers dur.
| ing the festival week. Unlike many Am.
| orleans who, when their fourth Of July
comes round. they stop eating and gel
drunk, when Chinese celebrate, tie
| eat and drink at the same time. The
| more they drink the more they eat. and
| that IL why You never see a drunken
Chinaman. Another reason that ouI
people don't get drunk is because the,
Just sip their wine or brandy. An or
binary drink for a white man woulC
make six or seven for Chinaman. Or
our new year We remember the poor
and make presents To each other, th,
same ~ Christian people do on Christ
mas day, though this il not practiced Il
any great extent outside of China. w,
always treat our friends to cigar, xlas,
Of China wine, or some China candy
and on the first day of our celebration
We have big fsasts. Every man Who ha.
a house of his own gets mp q big dinner
and invites his friends to feat with him
all the same as American man. Tn,
people will know when our new yea
commences by the music"
Thanking Gee Hee for the informa
ton, the reporter m ,de tracks for tn,
| Office. The Ameriean Cyciepedia, il
speaking of this holiday, says: "Amone
the Chinese the new years celebration
continued for three days, - the creates
festival OF the year. Preparatory to IL
all accounts are paid. and debts settles
10 far m possible; aud tradesmen VIII,
oannot pay their debts are general,
Obliged TO give mp all their property {,
their creditors. On New Years da,
calls are made upon friends. joyoul
Rres iugs are exchanged upon tn,
streets, paper prayers are offered in tn,
temples, hrewo rks are burned, gong
are beaten, and general hubbub pre-
vsi!s. At night gambling il practices
to an enormous extent"