Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-23

/ winter solstice, when the DAYS begin tc
lengthen and TO hint at coming spring.
! The Yulo log, the drinking bowl OF
horn, the boar's head, the holly, mistle.
toe and evergreen were then symbols of
material rather than spiritual truths
Tho American, Scandinavian, Ger.
man and Englishman keep up the an
cient custom, while the Latin races seem
to know nothing about II. They cele.
brato New Years day, and do it in the
same fashion as we at Christmas
Tho Chinese and japanese came CEN
turies ago from Mongolia and Siberia,
their early If not original home. Living
in land whose winter brought snow
and ice, they also noticed and rejoiced
over tho solstice and the return Of the
sun. Their merriment took the form Of
eating, drinking and generous hospital
ity and developed into q great festival
like our own. BY degrees it was trans.
ferred TO their New Years, whore it
still remains.
Yet even today tho astrologers notice
the sOlstice i'm their almanacs, horo.
scopes and tables, and in tho last week
OF the month arc two festivals whose
nature is charmingly poetic About
Dec. 20 il that of the genius of the
north (who il the evil spirit of ice and
winters priyation) and about Dec. 20 is
that Of the angel Of sunlight. In the
same week is the day of Chang Sin, the
tutelary deity Of parenthood, TO whom
young married couples pray for healthy
malo issue. The first and second are the
equivalents Of Yule, the pre- Christian
Yule. The first contains an element of
humor. The Mongolian is gladly bid.
ding goodby to the cruel ice spirit. He
does not wish the latter 10 sec his hilar.
ity lest spiritual vengeance be aroused
and cold spell in March or April ruin
the crops So no puts littlo cups of
fragrant tea, plates OF sliced boiled
chicken and pieces Of roasted spiced
pork ON we'll carved table where the
winter ghost can regalo himself with
comfort. But at the same time, 20 pre-.
vent his invisible visitor playing any
pranks, John Chinaman pastes written
talismans on the wall, burns joss sticks
in groups OF three at every point vulner.
able TO malicious goblins and even fas.
tens porcelain charm TO his rooftree.
When it comes TO the festival Of the
angel of light, the obseryant traveller
can SEQ the spirit of Yule shine out in
Chinese oolors. In place Of the Yule
log, there is steaming pot of tea; for
tho boar's head there is IA young pig
roasted; for the punch bowl and drink
ing horn there il IA wicker covered bottle
or graceful wine pitcher filled with
somo strange but aromatic stimulant.
Tho mistlotoe and holly are replaced by
bouquets aud garlands Of artificial flow
ers, and here and thcro are pots OF
blooming narcissi or even rosobush.
On the family altar, and nearly every
Chinaman, no matter how poor, has his
own altar, before which he prays and
makes silent repentance, are burning
incense sticks n bronze casket with
smoldoring saudalwood within, "a light.
ed candle and often a flaming yotive
candle, gay IA scarlet and gold. At the
tomplc throng visits the angels par.
ticular shrine. Some explode iirecrack
ors in her honor. Others ignto packs of
joss sticks la gratitude for her favors
the past year and In hope of their con.
tinuance during the harvest 10 como
Then come those who ask the angel 70
be present at tho funeral of a parent or
child, the marriage of son, the setting
out ON journey, the bedside Of sick.
room After prayer the poor priests
and seryitors Of the temple are remcm.
bcrcd IN few small coins. A bundle
of prayer papers is burned in the great
iron or bronze urn of the temple stairs,
and the religious ceremony is over for
tho day, The good man on woman goes
homo conton. that the spirit of the
north is disarrlod and the angel Of light
placated. WILLIAM H. $. FALEs.