New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-06
UONGOLTAN NEW YEAR.

HOW THE INHABITANTS OF CHINATOWN
CELEBRATE THE GREAT FESTIVAL.
The Chinese New Year will begin February 10. and
there IS great rejoicing in Chinatown. new play
has been prepared az the opera house In Doyersst.
and the sacred rooster kept there Tor luck Is even
a more important bird than he was last year. MISS
Y c. Furry who is In mission work In the neigh
borhood had this 10 say OF the festival 70 IND
une reporter
"Chinatown's New Years Day. unlike our own.
does not occur on a fixed day OF the year but con
forms 10 the customs OF the mother country Inc
Chinese year begins with March. and new month
Is introduced about once in every thirty months
thus New Years Day is between the middle OF Jan
uary and the middle OF March.
1T is an occasion Of national JOY and ndiVidua'
merry making each individual making and partak-
ing OF gifts innumerabe. Those given by superiors
10 servants are often OF considerable money value
The New Years celebration in China lasts thirty
days. and during this time all business IS Sus-
pended: but in NETWORKS Chinatown. where the
busy rushing life Of our metropolis influences the
little Oriental colony only week is given 10 les
t,,it!os This entire time IS spent in visiting eN-
changing presents and feastinE. Every Ceestla j.
expected 10 appear IN his best attire. ana TO greet
his acquaintances with unusual cordialty espe-
cially If meeting In the street
A dav or two before the close or the Ola Eei'
a thanksgiving service is held in each household
and acknowledgment made before the nousehoia
deity OF The safety and comfort Of the last year.
Before daybrcak on New Years morning the MEN,
hers Of each household offer sacrifices AID prayers
20 heaven and earth. and To their iuteaTy eods'
after this service chinatown Ia abazc with the eX-
posion Of hrecrackers making the neiehoornood
resound as If a dozen Fourth OF Julys had suddenly
been brought upon the scene.
After the worship OF household gods the de-
ceased ancestors receive due honor ana theH 'He
elder members OF the family have homage paid
them Then the visiting begins. According 20 an
ancient tradition .n Northern CHINA. New 49,
Ta,, is called the fowls day. the second me dos
daT. third pig day. fourth. the Sleeps DAY. M.
the COW S day. sixth the horse s. daN. ana - N'i-t
rnar.e dav During the FIRST SIX days me n'~I o-
am these animals 30 whom the day is d'd''a''1 D.
forbidden as food. ,,. . ,,,.
Here ms In China. II mans debts are nor
Maid and II ne is a defaulfer on New Year LAY
he loses his credit and reputation a. ",'u JUN,
for the year are supposed 20 bee settled me hlsnl
before and many merchants VIII sell t.rr eo!IN
below price make up the required sum TO pay the
..T'he New Year is recognized as new beginning
I'm life and business and a clean sheet u opened
for accounts. even the thoughts. WORDS ana &C.,
of the last wear are closed i'm unWNti'n hool1
and q nov era begins with the dawn
In san Franciscos Chinatown Nast SUMS y.
money are spent year iu generating me E'hl
holiday Thousands OF dollars are spent ~ ll,
vrorxs Wealthy merchants EN- ertalu tn'N irl"llu-
and business acquautances az c9iiS...,t ItNl'
Tanso and AIN the stores are closed. Many eaten,
nonnv shows are carried on and hlgh-salarled
actors clad in special New Years Costumes are en-
gagged 90 represent the old kings ang WatTloIS ~
hycone dyuastes and charm the MohsolaHs "l
the quarter.