New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-16
SOME ODD NEW YEARS DAYS
THEY DON'T ALL COME ON JANUARY l.
BY ANY MEANS.
THE RUSSIAN. CHINESE AND JAPANESE NE"
YEAR's-FIscAL YEARS AND THEIR

YEAR's-FIsCAL YEARS AND THEIR
VARIOUS BEGINNINGS.
People who keep their records according TO the
Gregorian Calendar have become used to dating
their letters checks, promissory notes and other
documents 1887" and in the general acceptation
Of the term the year has been fairly started
on Its twelve months journey. But before II has
its race. other years which were launched when
Is was still on earth will have completed their
cycles. and after II has been swallowed up by time
other years will be In the first bloom Of their youth
To those people who live in this country and In
other lands where the ordinary calendars predom-
mate. the records Of other people OF little i'm
portance. because they have existence only In
dim and apparently useless way. They serve to
adorn tale. to contribute additional picturesque
ness to outlandish and unAmerican people and to
furnish argument for vigorous efforts toward
Christianizing all peoples. To those. however.
whose ancestors have counted their years for CEN
turtles by other calendars and who are compelled
to abandon the systems because Of the march OF
Christianity. the popular and only legal calendar
Of the civilized world is enforced convenience.
The Chinese In the various large cities OF the
world where there are New Year celebrations take
advantage OF the opportunity to burn fireworks
and explode crackers and miniature bombs hang
out flags and fancy streamers the New Years
Day. and in drawing up official and legal docu-
ments. they use. like their Christian neigh
bors. the ordinary date. but in their
spondence with the "oId folks at home" with
the parent commercial house in the Chinese realm
they adhere to the calendar which is older than
that In in Christian lands According TO this
mode of reckoning. their year will begin on Febru
airy 1. The Chinese Consul in speaking Of 1t said:
'Our year is composed Of twelve months: the
18th of each Of these at the time OF the full
moon. In every five years there are two leap
years, which have thirteen months each. Our next
New Years Day will be February !. and our
correspondence will be dated on that day fol-
lows: The first day of the first month Of the
twentythird year OF the reign Of Kung Zu.' Next
year II will be just the same only It will be the
twenty-fourth year and The beginning Of
the reign of an Emperor begins new era.
THE RUSSIAN CALENDAR
The Russians also have distinct calendar. and
January | Is recognized as the beginning OF the
New Year only in cases where It would confuse
matters to begin it otherwise. The Russians Greeks
and other people who under the rule Of the
Car begin their year January 10.
Mr.. Olarovsky. the Russian Consul General. In
speaking Of the Russian New Year said: THE
Russian adheres strictly to his calendar. but in
this country in all others both dates are used.
and communications written by Russians frequent
ly confuse those who do not know that their year
begins when the Christian year is thirteen days
old. letter written by Russian on January
would be dated: December 90 '95-January |. 81.
and one written their New Years Day
would bear the date January l-l3 81 This
at first like a difference Of only twelve days. but
you must remember that the days at both ends
are counted. Thus celebrate Christmas on
January s. and the Russian has the advantage OF
enjoying his Christmas feast and his Christmas
presents when his American neghbors have
already forgotten theirs
NEW YEARS DAY IN THE AUTUMN
Among the additional New Years days which
are celebrated in New-York no other is probably
observed by many that Of the Jews The
New Years Day celebrated by them comes in the
fall OF the year that is. according their calendar
the first day Of the month Of Tischre. and
memorates the anniversary of the creation. IL Is
observed as day of prayer and THANKSGIVING and
has been for centuries made ny the Jews "A day Of
FAMILY reunion when good resolutions for the year
ito come were adopted and when people who had
departed In the year that gone remem-
bered In prayer. The admonitior promote peace
on earth and to preach goodwill toward all men
had its origin in the early celebration of the Jew
ish New Year festivals. and it became later OF
In the days OF the Israelitish nation the Jews had
earlier in the year. II the first day of the
month Of Nissan This day had religious sig
cial New Year. All documents and correspondence
were dated l according to this commercial calendar
respects with the present January l. With the dis
cpp@nrance Of the nation the Observance of the
unused unused except IN few countries where Chris
tianity has made headWay
"Our calendar said a man who is versed in He
brew lore. lis based astronomical principles
every fourth year has thirteen months. our calen-
'ar ha. been the same for thousands OF years and
inc caculaIlons ~ to-day. with IN" aid of modern
ana scientific instruments, arc 10 more exact than
tney we're In the days Of the prophets. There are
thousands of Jews in the Eas, Side crowded dis
trcts who were born and raised in ghettos. and TO
whom were denied the privileges of education. who
still use the Jewish calendar in their private cor
respondence which they carry on IN the Hebrew or
Jargor. and To whom the tireSoriln calendar
unknown until they came 70 this country
The Japanese had calendar based on the lunar
system until twenty-six years ago when they
adopted the Gregorian calendar; ana while they
the names OF the months as they are used In all
civilized countries their date lines have refer
ence tc the Christian era A message sent out by
the japanese Consul in New-Yorll on January
dated follows: The first day Of the first
month Of the thirtieth year of Meiji.' The Japa
nese fiscal year as far as the Government year is
concerned. begins on April J.
BUSINESS NEW YEARS DAYS
But among those with whom the year be
gins January /. and who know other New
Years Day han the first day on the annual calen
dar there business New Years days which are
observed with religious regularity Thus the fiscal
year in many departments in the State Of New
York ends or September 80
The United States Government closes its business
year June 30. and municipal. State and Federal
years begin and close in many instances at various
times
In the commercial world there New Years
days by he score. and it is not an unusual thing
10 find several concerns in the same building who
all date their correspondence in the usual form and
according &c the recognized way. who have dit
ferent days for the beginning OF their business
These New Years days and the fact of their varia
ton the result In part, Of the nature OF the
business and sometimes of the partnership agree
ments manufacturer OF turs ooes not take IN
ventory at the same time with his neghbor the
white goods manufacturer and the manufacturer
OF parasols does not figure his prohs and losses
when the ulster manufacturer Is taxing MS nven-
tory The variation OF the style of goods their
general character and the markets 10 which they
90 regulate the calendar far the first OF the
Year il concerned with many commercial establish
ments
THE SKATING CLTB WON.