The Washington times., 1905-11-26
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livelihood unless they invoke fha
protection of the goddesses at Ise.
and the peasants are even more de-
won't believers. The Ise pilgrims ara
distinguished by their gala dress and
by the large bundle of charms wran-
ped in oil paper or placed in an OBJ
long vanished box. which they car
ry suspended from their necks By
string.
Near the temple dedicated to n.
Goddess OF Food. there is sbo,
where pilgrims buy packets Of rice
that have been offered to the gods.
and paper charms. inscribed with
the name of the Goddess of Fooa
Next door is building where Kag-
ura dances are performed at request
Of pious pilgrims. and where ths
food offerings are sold for a few sen
meal.
In China at the beginning of VIM
ter a Thanksgiving festival is held
at which the deities are especially
thanked for the preservation of life
and health during the preceding
twelve months. Offerings are pre-
scented on the family altar. and the
ceremony is brought to a close bx
a grand dinner at which all men,
hers of the family can partake. The
feasting ana rejoicing are kent IN
for some days and extends to the
last night OF the year. On that
evening it is a common practice in
some parts of the country for bows
to cry aloud in the streets Mason
- sell my folly''-in order that
they may be wiser the next year.
Every year, on the fifteenth dav
OF the first moon, the Emperor of
China goes in great state TO a GER
tain field accompanied by the chief
officers of his household. and pros
trates himself. touching the ground
nine times with his head Ia honor Of
the god Tien. and pronounces a
prayer invoking the blessing of the
Great Being. Then as High Priest
of the Empire he sacrifices a bull
lock TO heaven as the fountain of all
good. While the victim is being Of
fered, 2 pillow drawn by a pair or
highly ornamented oxen is brought
TO the Emperor. who throws aside
his imperial robe, lays hold of The
pillow handles and opens several fur
rows. The principal mandarins fol-
ffsrrr hi 10 Il
which is really a species of thanks
in advance for good harVests, ends
with a distribution Of clothes and
money to tie poor.
An Italian vintage festival is about
the nearest thing the people have to
a Thanksgiving Day, but the two
things are the same in spirit If very
different in detail.
At these festivals a primitive in
terchange of labor takes place;
everybody helps everybody: no wage
is given. This mans vines facing
full south are forward, another mans
vines are backward. From all the
hillsides round the peasants flock to
each vineyard as needed. Occasion
ally an Italian viii do a lot OF work
in a Jay; but he will not hurry, he
is making love. meanwhile, to the
girl who works with him. The
grapes, stems and all, are put into
high wooden tubs and beaten with
heavy eudgels until the juice rises
foaming to the top. Then the tubs
are emptied into the great watts and
there churned thoroughly.
After the vintage comes the fea St
1t begins at dark and lasts through
the night. The peasants dance in the
padrone's kitchen. men dancing with
both men and women. The music
is continuous: partners, a pair at
time. take two or three turns and
sit down, giving place to another
pair Not until daybreak do the
jewellers. singing and laughing. so
10 their homes.
Our Thanksgiving Day2" said the
Frenehman who was asked for a con-
tribution to this article. we don't
cali any OF our fetes by that name.
but we might as we'll The finest
Thanksgiving Day celebration |
ever saw took place at Veyay in 1899.
1t was organized by wine-dressers,
and the magnificent pageant lasted
sixty days. The idea of the fete was
to reproduce all the familiar objects
and phases of local life and work.
The festival was opened by great
chorus singing the national hymn;
the Abbot delivered an impressive
speech. &C which the keynote was
Ora ct