The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-17
CHINESE new YEAR
CELEBRATED TO-DAY
All Chinese Plan Observ.
ance on a Large Scale
May Be Last Time.

NEW YORK, Feb. l7.-Members OF
the large colony of Chinese in New
York city are today exchanging New
Year membranes with their rela-
tives and friends. Last midnight bust
ness was suspended. and for the
next twenty four hours lanterns will
glow on the balconies and in the win
dOws OF the old buildings in Mott,
Doyer and Pell streets. joss sticks will
burn. bales OF red prayer slips will be
consumed to appease the gods. and
vast quantities of edibles most liked
by Chinese will vanish before the on
slaught Of the hosts OF the chosen.
Among the sons Of the Celestial
kingdom noise is an essential feature
Of the New Year festival, as 1t is of all
Chinese celebrations OF whatever kind.
Ffrecrackers will be set off in large
quantities and bombs will be exploded
in the streets. providing the necessary
permission is obtained from the city
authorities. Intermingling with this
roar will be the clang of gongs, the
crash OF cymbals. the beating of queer
little pigskin drums, and shrill sounds
from harsh and untuned flutes.
No orthodox Chinaman works dur
ing the holiday season unless his finan-
cial condition is such that 1t is abso-
lutely necessary for him to do So The
time Is spent in exchanging visits and
In sitting about the festal board which
10 burdened with nuts. candies and i'm
ported wines and liquors, with gener-
GUS pots of fragrant tea. The Chinese
women as u rule do not participate in
the festivities. The fathers take their
children with them, however, and the
hosts see that the little ones are bur-
dened with toys and sweetmeats.
More than ordinary significance at
taches to the New Year celebration
this year. for 1t Is possible that 1t will
be the Let to be held in accordance
with the old order of things. Among
the many remarkable changes result
ing from the revolutionary movement
in China 1t 10 probable that the adop-
ton of the western method of recok-
oning months and years will be in
cluded In fact, 1t 10 reported that the
cabinet ut Pekin already had decreed
the adoption OF the western calendar.
the Chinese New Year celebration on
January /. the same az in all other
countries using the Gregorian calen-
dar.
For hundreds of years it has been
the custom in China to reckon the
days Of the year by the lunar calen-
dar. each year having $50 days, and
the months having twenty.nine or thir.
ty days. as the case might be. In every
nineteen years there are seven vars
which have thirteen months. This is
not quite correct. 20 the Chinese adop-
ted the sxpedient of slipping in an ex.
ira month every third yeas 90 az to
keep the seasons In place and the
years running smoothly.
The adoption Of the Gregorian cal
endar doubtless will be welcomed by
all Chinese scholars. Hereafter. when.
ever new emperor ascends the
throne the Chinese began to reckon
their years all over again. The day OF
the year. however, did not change with
the coming of a new ruler, but 1t be-
came that day and month of the first
year In the reign Of the new ruler For
the little Chinese schoolboy 1t certain