The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-01-08
'KONOH| IS
COMING
Chinese Getting
Ready for
The Date Has Been Fixed
for January
18th.
Expensive Lanterns and Candles
Being Prepared for lIlumi-
nation of Chinatown.

Display windows of the Chinese
| stores are teeming with brilliantly col
ored red p1acards inscribed with gold
lettering, with fire crackers. artistically
decorated candles, huge gaudiIy colored
paper lanterns and many other odd
things which will be used on Chinese
New Years celebration commencing
January %.
Already the Chinese are looking for
ward to this annual celebration which
lasts among many of them for a week,
during which time business is practi-
calIy suspended. 1t is the week in
which housewives having Chinese
cooks, stewards and yard men, wear
frowns, don aprons and go into the
kitchen to prepare the family meals.
1t is useless to argue with the cook for
he has probably already made up his
mind to go in for big celebration and
doubtless has his plans laid out AS
the Chinaman iiQuidates all his social
obligations during the New Year, his
cartes de visite are already in the
course of preparation-strips of red pa
per about four inches long with his
name brushed on in big black hero
glyphics.
Ttn he eri., OF
the buildings of the United Chinese So
ciety. Bow wongs and at the Con-
sulate.
There is usually a difference in the
date of Chinese New Years, among
classes OF Chinese, the Chinese
Consul last year having put it
one day before that decided upon by
the Bow Wongs. The celebration be-
gins at the conclusion of the last stroke
of midnight on January q and will be
signalized by a monster explosion of
fireworks in all parts of the city. The
Chinese bands are rehearsing nightly
in barber shops and club rooms, and,
with the explosion of powder, will also
these sources. Big feasts will also be
spread for which a large amount of
merchandise from China has recently
been received and more is expected.
Huge glazed lanterns, gaudily painted,
the prevailing color being red, will line
the streets of Chinatown, swaying in
the wind and lending to the occasion
a picturesque Oriental charm. These
lanterns are of curious workmanship.
The frames are of split bamboo reeds.
These are bowed to shape and held at
the ends by wooden blocks so that they
can be opened and closed like umbrel-
las. Over this is stretched network of
fine silk threads. This mesh is cover
ed with a preparation of shellac and
in time the surface presents a trans
parent glazed surface, looking much
like a sphere of smoke-colored crystal.
On this smooth surface the Chinese ar
fist paints in brilliant colors birds, Chi
nese scenes, conventional border de-
signs and flowers, giving the lanterns
a bizarre appearance. The candles
for these huge lanterns are now being
made by the thousands, a patient work
requiring days and weeks before or
ders can be filled. Some Of these large
candles are highly decorated with gold
and are quite expensive, often costing
80 a pair. Red is seen in everything
prepared for the celebration for the Chi
naman wants no other color, it being
considered a sign of good luck The
lanterns sell as high as $40 apiece.