The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-27
CHINESE READY
FOR NEW YEAR
Local CeleStialS Prepare for
the Great Holiday.
OBSERVANCE At THE LEGATION
Said Tint Minister WI VIII CeIe-
hrnte on "a Larger Scale
Than Ever Before.

The Chinese in all parts Of the world.
and In Washington especially. are making
active preparations to celebrate their
New Year Day, which this year falls on
February y. The Chinese are not con
tent with celebrating the advent Of a
new year with one days festivities; they
keep il up for whole week. And the
Chinese New Year is not like its West
ern prototype The Christian New Year
falls on the first day OF January every
year, but not so with the turn Of the
cycle Of the Asiatic. While theirs falls
on February u this year, next year il
may fall ON the 9th or 10TH OF there
abouts. The Chinese New Year is a
movable feast. just as Easter
The Chinese festival brings with IL
many old customs and usages. One OF
them is. for instance, that the Chinese
give their own person a most thorough
cleansing, as well as their household.
their oxen and all that belongs to them.
Local Preparations Commenced.
The Chinese residents Of this city have
already begun with the securing process
this city one may observe how busy they
are in their efforts to duly honor the
great approaching occasion. Most of the
tea shop and Chinese grocery store pro
prietors have their shops and places pa
Dered with bright red wall paper The
Chiuee puts = great deal Of confidence in
this color. He thinks it scares away all
evil spirits.
Long narrow strips Of red paper with
Chinese hieroglyphics imprinted on them
in gold or black ink are hung about their
bodies in honor Of the first day Of the
new year. These paper strips contain
magic words and prayers and poetry. and
are also designed 10 bring good luck and
keep away the evil
Part of the Chinese Lily.
The Chinese lily plays a prominent
part in the superstitious belief Of the
Chinese. II blooms about this time Of
the year, or perhaps a little later. The
Chinese regard the plant with almost
yeaeration and count its buds almost dali
Iy-for so many buds, so many years Of
happiness. Chinese lilies eau be seen in
bought at any OF the Chinese shops.
New Year Day in China has this one
feature in common with that observed in
this country, that presents among mem
bers OF the family and friends are in or
der. Even now Cinnamon may be seen
visiting the various empOriums OF this
city scanning the counters for suitable
New Year gifts Membs Of the Chinese
Legation are not exempt from this Gus
tom; and they are also visitors at the
fashionable shops, buying jewelry and
ether articles for their friends They
always attract attention wherever they
go on account OF their appearance aud
dress. They uually wear a light blue
tunic and little cap with coral button
Must Close Out Debts.
But the most important feature Of the
Chinese New Year is the aspect which the
business man puts upon it, Il is the rule
that the Chinese who have any money out
standing for merchandise. loans. or any
thing else. 20 make his best endeayors 10
collect it within the New Years week.
for il he does not succeed he has no right
TO claim il after the New Year once has
entered upon lis cycle The Cinnamon
in this city are at present busily engaged
in this most laudatory custom. and judg-
ing from what one Of them said about
the matter. money Is just as dear 20 the
Chinese heart as Il is 10 any other They
hate tC part with IL.
CLONE black. is what they slay alice
time" said one Celestial speaking Of the
troubles he has with those who owe him
money.
Al the Chinese Legation.
At the residence Of Wu Ting-fang. the
Chinese Minister, the same preparations
are going on as elsewhere. only on a
more extended scale. The stately man
sion at the corner Of Nineteenth and 0
Streets is undergoing a thorough clean
ing and renovation. Mr.. WI has always
most conscienuously observed this ma
uOnal holiday. and so far as can be ascer-
tanned he intends celebrating II on a more
extensive and elaborate scale this year
than ever before.