Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

Some Of the queerest people have ever
met are the Koreans. The world knew
nothing about them ten years ago, and they
have today about the same customs which
the Chinese had four hundred years ago.
They are to a large extent a nation of
children and New Year is a great day
with them. On this day men and boys
turn out to fly kites and they keep this
kite flying up during the New Year holt
days. When they are over they cut the
strings OF their kites and let them fly away,
believing that the kites will carry of any
Ill luck which may be waiting for their
owners. Korean kite Is different from
any other kite in the world. 1t has no tail
ana IL Is nearly square. 1t is made of thin
pieces OF bamboo covered with paper, with
mole In the center. The fact that it has
no tail makes IL require great skill to OBJ
crate II, and the Koreans use reels of string
instead of balls. When they get their Kites
nigh up In the air they try to make them
SWING TINS way and that so they will cut
the strings Of their neighbors. and when
tns strings become entangled their owners
pull at them and the one who gets hold
OF his enemy's kite first has the right to IL.
aged, and a thousand people often wa1ch
them with as much interest as the Snan-
iards do a bull fight and we Americans
do the race track.
One sunday n Year.
New Year day is a sort of a Korean Sab
bath. 1t is the only Sunday the Koreans
nave and me same may be said of the
Shihese In Korea no one ever works on
New Year and there are family reunions
IKE our Thanksgiving day. Children on
this day are expected to go home to their
parents. All debts have to be paid, ana
every one expects to get his bills at the
last of the year. On New Year morning
II Is Imperative that you call upon your
1rlends, and You are expected to sacrifice to
your ancestors. The giving of New Year
presents Is common, and these presents are
always sent out in a certain kind of box
known as New Year boxes Every one
comes out in new clothes and for a week
little else than Teasing is done. The Ko-
reans are very superstitious ana one of
their New Year customs is the making Of
emgies of straw representing themselves
In these straw men are hidden pieces of
money and also piece of paper on which
is written prayer asking that the owner
be delivered from all plaques and diseases
ana misfortunes for the year to come. Boys
call for these effigies and they cut them up
to get the money out of them. The more
they are cut the better will be the luck of
the persons who make them. After they
are torn to pieces the remainders are
thrown at some cross roads, where they are
burnt.
The japanese celebrate the NewYear much
made. presents exchanged and settlements
are expected. The children are out in force
Iney play all sorts OF games and they make
snow men Just as our boys do in America
New Year I'm Turkey.
The Turks have number of holidays.
was in Constantinople on Mohammed's
birthday and the people were all out in
their best clothes, and / watched the sultan
go to the mosque. / also saw the procession
which goes every year across Constanti-
nople to kiss the mantle of Mohammed.
The Mohammedan year is eleven days
shorter than ours. and its New Year day
changes from year to year. The astroIogers
fix the exact beginning OF it by firing a
rocket from one Of the heights about Con-
stantinople, and the Turks celebrate IL in
great shape. The sultan gives a reception
in one of his palaces and at this reception
every one gets a New Year gift in the
shape OF some Turkish gold pieces which
are especially minted for the purpose. All
the high class Mohammedans make pres
ents to their households on this day, and
nearly every servant gets a piece of money.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.