The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-02
CHINESE CUSTOMS.
TOLD BY STUDENT
Huang Chin Explains Odd
Observances of New
Years in Far East.
ONLY ONE HOLIDAY
Western Culture Gradually
Changing Many Tradi-
tons of China.

i have observed with much inter-
est your celebration of the new wear
in this country. In some respects 1t is
similar to the way in which we OBJ
serve the day in China, but only IN q
few. In my country the time means
more to the people. think, and they
make much more of it."
Hnang Chin. a Chinese student who
Is attending the State University, yes
terday observed for the first time the
American manner Of celebrating the
beginning of a new year. He made the
above statement.
Il don't know when the custom (for
~ is a we'll established custom in
china), OF observing the beginning or
new year as a time out of the or
binary first began. 1t has been in
vogue for thousands /of years: that
much do know, for we have records
OF the fact. Perhaps no man can tell
when celebrations OF the time were
f1rst held. / think 1t more than prob
abIe That as a custom II had no deff-
mite date Of beginning but is the result
OF practices of different kinds carried
on by many generations But he that
as 1t may, Chinese New Year is the
big, and practically the only holiday
season which is known to the people Of
my country. OF course there are some
who have become Christians and OBJ
serve Christmas. but they are few"
Just why the season means SO much
to the people Of his country, Mr.. chin
explained. He said:
Only Chinese Holiday.
New Year is hailed by the China
man as time of rest and recreation.
Here In America you have your
christmas and Your Independence day:
You have your Labor day and your
Columbus day. In China we have none
or these. Everybody works from New
Year to New Year. In all this. of
course, I am referring to the mass OF
Chinese people. American IDEAS and
customs are fast getting hold in the
minds of my people and with the ad !
vancement of learning. they are be-
ginning to discover. among other
things, that work Is not an end In 1t :
self. and that greatest efficiency Is to
be had only with proper amount of
rest.
$50 when the time comes for a time
of relaxation the.people are all in the
proper mood for 1t. Nor do they STOP
with one or two or three days of cele-
bration. The arrival of the years
only time of rest is celebrated for two
weeks In most parts of The country
observanees Differ.
The Chinese of the north have Diff
ferent observances than the Chinese of
the south. The whole country, how
ever, makes the time one OF festival
and merrymaking.
When the new year comes, or rather
when the old year goes. the time OF
celebration is begun" said Mr.. Chin.
Everything Is dropped that Is work.
We watch the clocks and at midnight
we make all the noise we can. We
ring bells. we blow whistles, and we
always have fireworks. After a few
hours of this we quiet down and begin
the rest part Of the celebration. Tho
occasion is always marked by fairs
and carnivals. Everyone dresses up in
his best. and goes to the gathering
places. which Is usually out of the city
somewhere. Here are shows of various
kinds. Horse racing is common. We
have what we call our dances, too,
though they are not like yours. These
good times last day and night, for
weeks"
West Changing Custom.
Mr.. Chin explained that with the
advent Of western culture, the custom
Is beginning to change. Fright now
Is a time for transition. That means
that the whole country is mixed up on
the affair. Here are some people who
are conservatives and observe the time
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