Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-12-18

JApAlN'Ss RED. LETTER, DAY.
New Years In the Flowery KinSaom
Described BY an Americas.

New Years In the FloweFy Kingdom
Described BY an American.
Ill "New Years day is red letter day
In Japan" said the woman who has
! lived in the Flowery Kingdom to the
little circle who sat around the open
crate exchanging experiences Of the
week the other day. First OF all ev.
cry house. large or small, rich or poor,
makes some attempt at decora ton. Not
to decorate would be unlucky. Two
pine trees are used, one black, the 9th,
er green, symbolizing the male and fe-
male sides of the house. Deep holes
are dug on each side of the entrance
in which the trunks are planted, to
signify strength and IL prosperity.
Boughs of the graceful bamboo, which
!. is the emblem of health and long life
are twined around their stems. Then
a kind OF archway is made by swing.
ing from pine to pine an odd looking
rope of dry grass twisted. This is very
carefully hung. for it is supposed to-
, bar the entrance against evil spirits
that may mediate harm toward the
house or family and bad luck in any
guise. Branches Of the Towering
japonfca, symbolizing conjugal happi:
ness, health and prosperity, are intro
duced, and seaweed, which signifies
good fortune. But most curious of all
are the bits of white paper which are
supposed to propitiate the various
Shinto gods and request continuation
of their favors. The lanterns are in
evitable. At night the effect is bril-
liant-the entire city Of Tokyo illu-
mined from one end to the other with
thousands. of the palest, most exquisite
and artistic lantern ideas that night
ever brought forth.
"The Japanese have a good New
Years custom which we might emu
late to advantage-the universal Gus
tom of paying all bills and starting the
new year free from debt. Many and
most strenuous are the efforts a. Jap.
anese man of business or household:
er will take to discharge his liabilities.
'New Years day is the great time
for visiting, which begins early in the
morning. The mikado holds recep-
ton, and everybody, from the highest.
officials down to the lowest ranks, goes
a-calling. Jinrikishas are whirled from
:, house to house by their swift footed
human steeds, cards are left, and pres
ents are numerously given. Everybody
wears the eastern approximation to
Christmas look on his face. What the.
gift costs is not nearly SO important
as how it is tied up. Japanese etiquette
is very punctilious on this point The
present must be wrapped in particu:
lar kind of paper, fastened with par
uevset lord of red and white paper
rolled in string which must be tied
in a peculiar knot, and finally there
must be small symbol of folded pa
per. Without the latter no present
ever changes hands.
Everybody, Of course, wears the best
garments of which his or her ward
robe boasts. The streets are crowded.
and the children and their fathers and
mothers, too, are all out playing at bat
tledoor and shuttlecock and flying kites
with wonderful dragons and gods on
hem until the entire street is turned
into playground, young and old swell
ing the happy throngs and keeping the
merriment going" -Philadelphia Times.