The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-12-30

svmnolisn, and of oood wishes The New Years
wine, too, is passed around. with the Wish tnat
everyone may drink along with the cup long,
long life. soup containing peculiar rice paste,
mochi. is eaten by all, each one wishing the
others ten thousand years of pleasure and pros
perity. Then the household prepare for a day
of festivity. The BUSY broom and bamboo dusJer
are left idle all the day, for fear that they might
sweep out of the house the divine freshness that
has come into it. All the shops remain closed
from dawn until the next day. It is the day OF
the home and OF social happiness There is no
Christmas tree" as the center of the Japanese
New Year celebration inside the house, but there
is the Kagami mochi or mirror rice cakes" that
are made as conspicuous as the tree" These
cakes represent the round mirror in which the
sight of her face enticed the sun goddess out Of
her cave in the olden time. For eleven days these
cakes remain decorated with fruits and flowers,
elevated on whitewoods trays. Then they form
part of family feasting
Throughout Japan the New Years day is the
one complete holiday Of the year. Soon after
breakfast all the members of the families, dressed
in their newest clothes take to the gardens, parks
and streets for characteristic pleasurings. Uni
versal visiting is social law-calling on friends
and relatives in person or by card Universal
gift making is INDUCED in, messengers being
sent bearing presents all around the household
and friendly circles. Distinctive and exclusive
games also belong to the New Year time. Battle
them. In certain parts of Tokyo. for example,
streets are almost impossible because of the
hosts of the players of this game AS far one
see the scene is one Of bewildering color
from the stir of the dresses of the girls, who are
as active in their sport as so many of our tennis
players. Gayly ornamented battledores flash ev-
erywhere, and the air is fall Of the bright futter-
ing toys that are struck from one to another
player Penalty for defeat usually means gro
tesque markings of the face with strokes of char
coal ink One may see thousands of children
merry under the comical markings imposed upon
their foreheads and cheeks.
Kite flying is another peculiar New Year pas
time. And kite flying in Japan is sight well
worth going far to see. The variety of shape, the
gorgeousness of coloring the extraordinary size
of many of these toys, is something peculiar to
the Japanese. Then the skill shown In maneu-
vering the kites is marvellous. They hum as they
sway in the January breeze with sort of organ
pipe volume of sound. and, at times, they swoop
down upon antagonist fiers, like hawks. and,
with their glass-dustcovered cords cut their enc
mics free. thus making them the property Of
their own masters. There is hardly a more fas-
cinating spectacle than one Of these friendly bat
ties in the air of Japanese kites under the guild
ance Of the skilled men who manage them
Another distinctive entertainment for the New
Year celebration is furnished by groups of masked
performers who go about the streets led by a
curious animal-like creature. whose grotesque
ion-head excites much mock terror among chill
dren. The antics Of these motley crowds are
supposed to exercise evil spirits from the Japan
ese homes as well as to add gayety to the do
ings of the day. Many other unique ceremonies
take place on the first day; too many for an at
tempt to describe them here
But we may not pass by the old card parties
of the New Year evenings; the matchings Of the
beginnings and ends of the hundred songs of a
hundred singers" From one January to another
this game is not INDUCED in; but at the opening
of the year it is the chief sport kept for the even
ings. whole families becoming absorbed in it. It
is contest Of memory and OF quickness at dis
covering in cards laid out before a group of play
ers the end of a, poem whose opening lines have
been read by leader. It Is astonishing to see
the mental s1n that many Of the players have
acquired.
One more exciting New Year game deserves
mention. the fortune lotteries. In these home
lotteries one takes hold of the end Of roDe and