The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-22

the week everybody settles down 10 bust
ness, and the settlement is as calm and
well ordered as If II had never heard of
New Year.
The japanese New Years Day Is Janu-
airy %. BY this time all accounts have
been adjusted and all disputes settled.
Everybody puts on the regulation dress
"a sort OF light-blue cotton-and starts
out to visit relatives and friends The
visiting lasts for three days, and they
send letters Of congratulation, in stiff. set
phrases, to those In distant places.
japanese Drink Tea.
They go TO their favorite tea gardens,
and there is a grand procession In which
all trades are represented Drums and
stringed instruments are played by
numerous bands. and wax figures are sold
by the thousands. They amuse themselves
with top spinning. kite flying. jugglers,
actors. and fireworks. and 1.-THE ladies OF
quality" please themselves with the
butterfly dance"
Presents are offered of cooked rice.
roasted peas. oranges. and figs. The
peas are scattered about the houses 10
frighten away evil spirits. and on the
fourth day Of the New Year. the decora-
tions of lobster, which signify reproduc-
ton; cabbages, which mean riches. and
oranges, which mean good luck are taken
down and replaced with boughs Of fruit
trees and flowers. This is to signify the
near approach Of spring, when the win
ter garment of repentance" shall be
thrown aside.
In the India Empire. the day which cor
responds to other New Year celebrations,
is called "HoOly" and is a feast in honor
Of Krlshna Caste temporarily loses
caste. and the prevailing hue is red. Ev-
cry one who can afford it, wears red gar
ments. They throw red powder at one
another and mix It with water and
spit it on passers by. This IS taken in
as good part as snowbalhng is by us.
As previously arranged tie Esquimaux
go forth from their snow huts or ice caves
in pairs. one of each pair being dressed
in w6men's clothes. They gain entrance
10 every igloc in the village. moving ST.
lently and mysteriously. At last there
is not a light left in the whole place. and.
having eKtinguished every spark of fire
they can find. they kindie a fresh one.
going through mysterious ceremonies
AAANelAi " AlllN II AUitA TINS Nltt NVAAAft GIL
lamps and fires in the district are lighted
anew.
Germany Makes Calls.
In Germany. complimentary visits are
exchanged between the merest acquaint-
ances, and New Years gifts are made to
the servants. The eve Of the New Year
is called der Sylvester Abend." and
while it is considered not unbecoming for
the young and thoughtless to while away
the evening by dancing. the day in more
serious households takes on a semi-re-
ligious aspect. During the evening. there
IS prayer at the family altar, and at mid
night the watchmen on the church tower
blows his horn to announce the birth Of
the New Year.
The Chinese New Year is a movable
festival falling on any date between jan
uary p and February 10, and is said TO be
the most generally observed holiday sea-
son kept by any nation in the world. One
Of the ,companying ceremonials and
features Of the day is the cleaning pro-
cess. Not only his store. laundry. or res
taurant. but the Chlnaman's own person
undergoes the cleaning process.
His abode is deliberately decorated with
long streamers OF glaring red paper, bear
ing In Chinese char tiers New Year
wishes and invocations 70 their god,
Wong Kung, and with artificial flowers
made from multi-c0lored paper and feath-
ers, and the Chinese narcissus-
II this flower blooms before the advent
of New Year and bears many flowers. IL
means that the owner of il will have
plenty Of good luck during the year TO
come; if it blooms after New Year II
means misery. In the mother country
New Year Is eminently a season Of feast
ing. its rejOicings absorbing fully a
month. during the first part of which
there is not an empty stomach in the en-
pire.
Chinese square Accounts.
Presents of cakes are given to the poor.
and brilliant cakes" supposed TO help
the children along with their studies, are
distributed from the temples. New Years
Day IS also Of great Importance to the
Chinese debtor and creditor, both Of
whom may be seen hurrying to and fro.
anxiously endeavoring to straighten out
and settle their accounts before the day
passes.
According TO a custom, which is worthy
of imitation. all debts must be paid or
settled IN some satisfactory manner be-
fore the dawn of the new year. There Is
no disgrace equal to having an unpaid
debt on the first morning Of the new
year. Those Celestials who live up to the
traditions of their nation and the teach
ings Of their religion will wend their way
10 the JOsshOuse soon after daybreak on
the first day of the new year, and there
offer their prayers to Wong Kung,
through the medium OF Shen San Chigh
priesD.
They will propitiate heaven and earth
with offerings Of rice, vegetables, tea,
wine. oranges, and imitation paper
money, which they burn with incense.
joss sticks and candles Afterward they
worship their household gods and de-
ceased ancestors and living relatives The
New Years season ends with the feast
Of lanterns. On this day all houses and
stores, public and private buildings are
decorated with multi-colored lanterns, ar
ranged so as TO represent the different
conditions in the life and business Of the
celebrant.
The day was observed by the Romans.
and the custom of New Year gifts orig
mated among them. The same idea is
carried oct in remote parts Of France and
England
CHR HEARS OISCUSSTnN