Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-02-02
Cincinnati Chinese Celebrating
Their New Years.

There appenrs to be difference of
opinion among the Cincinnati China
men as to the exact location on the
American calendar Of the Chinese New
Year, and, as result, the celebration
of the event has been continued over
two days, and the festivities will last
until next Sunday, when there will be
grand finale to the feasting and pc
culiar merrimet.
The burning Of joss sticks was be-
gun Tuesday by nearly all the China
men in Cincinnati, who offered up
thanks and INDUCED in the strange
and rather weird ceremony, the mean
ing Of which only they know. After
the formalities of the celebration are
over the celebrators turned their at
tention to things somewhat American,
touching glasses from which they
drank their national New Years bev-
erage with exchange of wishes for a
Happy New Year. Hllarity and mer-
riment followed increasingly through
out Tuesday night and all day yester-
day business in all laundries being en-
tirely suspended. First at one place
and then at another they would meet,
going from the home of one to an
other, at each of which there was an
abundance of refreshments, consisting
of many delacies known to them in
their nativity.
At number of these homes, which
were decorated after the fashion char
asteristic of the people, there were
elaborate dinners Of fried chicken and
other meats. pastries, etc, and the
pipes were kept well filed. Sam KEGS
place was a sort of headquarters, or
hub, to and from which his country
men passed all day yesterday, and
from which the fumes OF the jess stick
1 fioated out into the air. Sam was well
prepared for the entertainment of all
his guests, and there was a merry time
These Cinnamon will not work to-
day, or the rest of the week, but the
explanation was given by one that the
reason for this was not the same as
keeps the native Americans from
working on the day following cele.
bration. mo big head" he said, "but
we have not quit yet Next Sunday
afternoon will occur the big feature oi
the celebration, when all the orthodox
Cinnamon of Cincinnati, Covington
and Newport will assemble at the
home of Lee Wah in Main street
where there will be jolly good time
and an elaborate dinner. This will be
the real celebration, and extensive
preparations are being made for it.
All Cinnamon are getting together
their boxes of candies, cakes, jellies
and other dainties which will go to
make up the menu, and these have
bee narriving at Wah's in great num-
bers for several days. These reach
the meeting place in rather a round
about way by virtue Of a custom, one
countryman fixing up nice package
which he sends to one of his friends
who in turn sends it with an addition.
al one to another friend until they
have all passed through the hands OF
of all who are to participate, finally
finding their way Ito the place of cele-
bration.
On this occasion there will be more
or less ceremony and sacred reverence
which will be followed by feasting and
merriment After this the Cinnamon
will return to their homes
and their yocations for the re-
mainder of the year. The celebration
throughout is attended by the strict
est sobriety on the part of all, the
beverages used being Oriental cordials
and wines which are issued from the
Chinese headquarters in San Francisco
to celebrators all over the country
and which, while pleasant and invig.
Grating, do not produce intoxicatior
except in the case of extreme indul.
gence.