The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-31
THE CHINESE new Year
Celestials Make Merry and Ex-
change Greetings.
Natives of the FIowcry Kingdom Re
siding in Washington Celebrate
Their Chief HoIiJay-A Season OF
Rejoicing. Fcnsting. and Visiting
Scenes in the Local Joss House.

With the usual pomp and ceremony. in
| GLIDING the exploding of frecrackers, tht
burning OF incense and punk. greetings
| good wishes, etc, the Chinese New feai
was ushered in and duly celebrated by al
| Celestials in the city yesterday. The cele'
| bration began at midnight Monday aEt
will continue, according to the CHINESE
custom, for ten days. During that period
all business will be practically abandoned
| and the better class of merchants Will
enjoy, as far as possible, the recreation
coincident with the greatest event of theii
| year The laboring class, such as laun-
drymen, servants, etc, who are orthodox
| will celebrate until an early hour tomor-
row morning, when, because OF necessity,
they will be compelled to return 10 their
tolls.
The Chinese New Year is, in most re-
spects, observed as is that of the Chris
tian people, who in accordance with the
Gregorian calendar. begin another era on
January l. Everywhere the day is one of
feasting, drinking. and merry making-a
day when business is suspended and every
his friends. Each home is profusely deco
rated with Chinese lilies, artificial flowers.
varicolored lanterns, etc, which burn
before images or pictures of Gar Guam, a
Chinese ruler of centuries ago, and due
tribute is paid TO his memory. Before the
image or picture, as the case may be, are
spread Chinese candies, nuts, wines, fruits,
cigars, cigarettes, and other products OF
the Oriental kingdom. All are offerings
to the great good man, as he is called
Tea is a conspicuous beverage, which is
partaken OF by all callers, though Ting
Moy wine. rice wine, rose brandy, Chinese
whisky, and other Chinese intoxicants are
freely partaken of.
Without exception every Chinaman in
the city received yesterday, though the
principal entertainers were Sam MOy, OF
3i4 Pennsylvania Avenue; the Hong Chong
Company at 3i6 Pennsylvania Avenue; the
Hip Chong Long Society, at liz Four-and-
a-half Street; Moy Lin For, Of 105 -Four
and-a-half Street, and Moy Don, of 3i2
Pennsylvania Avenue. The Chinese Joss
House, at 104 Four-and-a-half Street, was
of course visited by all Cinnamon who paid
tribute TO Gar Guam.
ALFRED in their best raiments, he China
men visited each other. Once inside the
visited house greetings were exchanged.
There was a salam and the visitor clasped
his hands (the Chinese fashion of hand
shaking). and uttered greetings, good
cheer, and best wishes for q happy new
year. The host recognized the salutations
by clasping his hands and returning the
greetings. Tea was at once offered and
partaken of. Cigars were smoked and can
dies and fruit eaten and then wine or other
beverage was drunk. That ended the cere-
mony. and the happy Cinnamon journeyed
On to call on other friends, never tarrying
more than five minutes at any one place.
While the celebration Will continue for
ten days, as stated, the observance of the
New Year will nowhere be so pronounced
or magnificent as il was yesterday. Those
Cinnamon who can afford the luxury of a
prolonged celebration will keep open
house for at least ten days, and will re-
frain as much as possible from all labor.
There will be few who will adhere to
the regular custom of celebrating for a
month, but with the majority the feast
will end tonight.
Every Chinaman who made New Year
cal! yesterday carried with him his cards,
bearing his name and greeting prin ed
in Chinese characters with black ink On red
paper a card was deposited at each
house visited, and i'm return the visitor re-
ceiyed cards from his host and tho e who
assisted him or We're associated with him
In business. Numerous cards were Ie-
ce.ved by mail from Cinnamon in various
parts of the United States.