The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13

winter solstice, when the days begin TO
lengthen and to hint at coming spring.
The Yule log, the drinking bowl or
horn, the boar's head, the holly. lnistle-
toe and evergreen were then symbols Of
material rather than spiritual truths
The American, Scandinavian, Ger
man and Englishman keep up the an
cient custom, while the Latin races seem
to know nothing about it. They c..la-
brate New Years day, and do it il lie
same fashion rs wo at Christmas.
The Chinese and Japanese came cen
turtles ago from Mongolia and Siher.;,
their early if not original hone Liviar;
i'll land whose winter brought s-,w
and ice, they also noticed aud re. ed
over the solstice and the return Of lac
sun. Their merriment took the form,
eating. drinking and generous hos: ~.
ity aud developed into a great festi.:ai
like our own. BydeSrees it was trans
ferred to their New Years, where ii
still remains.
Yet even today the astrologers notic..
the solstice in their almanacs ha-a-
scopes and tables, and i'll the last week
Of the month are two festivals whose
nature is charmingly poetic. Ainnt
Dec. 25 is that of the genius of TAO
north (who is the evil spirit of leo al.l
winters privation) and about Dec 20 Is
that of the angel of sunlight. In Ike
same week is the day of Chang Sin, tie
tutelary deity of parenthood, to " hon,
young married couples pray for healthy
male issue. The first and second art lie
equivalents Of Yule, tie pre-C.ari sian
Yule. The first contains IN element of
humor. The Mongolian is GLADLY lid-
ding goodhy 10 the cruel ice spirit. lie
does not wish the latter to see bis lsiia;-
ity lest spiritual vengeance be aroused
and cold spell in March or April ruin
the crops. So he puts little CUPS of
fragrant tea, plates Of sliced Boiled
chicken and pieces Of roasted spiced
pork on II we'll carved table where the
winter ghost can regale himself with
comfort. But at tho same time, to pre-
vent his invisible visitor playing any
pranks, John Chinaman pastes written
talismans on the wall, burns joss stick.
in groups of three at every point vulner
able to malicious COLLINS and even fas
tens porcelain charm to his rooftree.
When it comes to the festival of the
angel of light, the observant traveller
can see the spirit of Yule shine out ii
Chinese colcrs. In place of the Yul,
log, there is steaming pot of tea; fol
the boar's head there is q young pi:
roasted; for the punch bowl and drink
~
or graceful wine pitcher filed witt
some strange but aron.at stimuiant
The mistletoe and holly are replaced b
bouquets and garlands of artificial flow
ers, and here and there are pots o
blooming narcissi or even rosebush.
On the family altar, and nearly ever
Chinaman, no matter how poor, has hi
makes silent repentance, are burnin
incense sticks, bronze casket wit
smoldering sandalwood within, u lighl
ed candle and often flaming votiv
/. candle, gay in scarlet and gold. AT til
temple throng visits the angels pa
ticular shrine. Some explode firecracl
ers i'll her honor. Others ignite packs {
joss sticks in gratitude for her favor
J the past year and in hope of their COL
tinuance during the harvest to come
!. Then come those who ask the angel
be present at the funeral of parent {
:, child, the marriage of Il son, the settin
= out ON a journey the bedside of q sicl
. room. After prayer The poor prizes
!. and servitors of the temple are anen
y bered in few small coins. A bund
of prayer papers is burned in the gre;
d iron or bronze urn of the temple stair
and the religious ceremony is over +,
. the day. The good man OF woman &C
II home content that the spirit OF II
{ north isdisarmed and the angel of Zig!
p.acated. WILLIAM t. S. FAIhs