The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-09-14
CHINESE HOLIDAYS.
Boston Courier.

Boston Courier.
 Unlike Christian people, the Chinaman has no Sunday, when business ceases and he can enjoy peace and quietness for twenty -four hours Of course in this country the Celestals obliged stop work on the Sabbath, and the day means nothing to them, they play cards gamble smoke opium or occupy themselves as best they until they can begin toiling again on Monday. In China, business is carried on almost without intermission the year round As if to compensate them for their lack of lone day of rest in seven they have numer ous holidays, however; fewer, perhaps, than some other nations of the world, but winch are relig- iously celebrated by the whole nation. There are, of course the national holidays, and almost every province, besides having the national holidays to celebrate, has many local holidays and celebrations which are confined almost exclusively to certain cities or towns in the province Even in America the Celestial population fails to observe the national gala days and in Boston especially the Chinese particularly loyal in that respect.
 People passing along Harrison avenue are soften attracted to little China by the unearthly noises which proceed from the open windows of the houses occup'ei by Ce stials and often wonder why it is that the big Chinese flag is floating from the flagstaff on the roof of number 36 and why the big lanterns suspended from windows all along the block These occasions are Chinese holidays and it was for the purpose of finding out something about them for the benefit of the readers of the Globe, that the writer hunted up or two of his Mongolian friends, who proved to be very willing to give the information desired.
 1t appears that some of the holidays regulated by the sun, and therefore fall fixed dates, the winter solstice and the period for visiting the tombs, but by far the greater number are depend ent upon the moon, and fall upon different dates in different years.
 The one great universal season of leisure is the rejoicing over the coming of the new year, and at that time it Is said that the whole Chinese empire is almost beside itself with rejoicing and each indi vdual tries to outdo the other in the extent of his celebration.
 On the approach of the new moon, which falls nearest to the point when the sun is in the 18th degree of Aquarius which is the commencement of the Chinese civil year, all public offices in the empire closed and the mandarins put their seals rnder lock and key, where they remain until the twentieth day of the new moon. Every body sits up on the last night of the old year, and at the Inoment of midnight the celebration begins, fire crackers exploded rockets sent up tin horns are blown and the whole thing would remind an American very forcibly of the "glorious Fourth. p 1t is said that in most of the large cities of China the firing of crackers is carried to such extent that the air becomes literally charged with nitre Tn Boston and other cities in this country the authorities usually suppress this firing of crackers but the happy Celestials have many other ways of showing their patriotism.
 From midnight until dawn every one is em- ployed in the performance of sacred rites, or in preparing his dwelling place for the solemnities which come with the new year. It is said that many go through the process of washing and bath ing in warm water in which is infused some of the sweet scented leaves of the Hoangy, fruit plant , 90 that they may be able to begin the new year with . clean body we'll . purified mind. Whether this is true not s beyond the power o1 the writer to judge but the natural abhorrence In which Chimman holds water is known to every