South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-13
Gorgeous Ceren1onials
In China For Festival
Of ,FriendLess Ghosts

SHANGHAI. oct. I2.-Ths festival
Tor the FrisndIess Ghosts Is beins
celebrated by millions OF Chiness
throughout China.
on the first day OF the seventh
moon. according 90 Chinese super
sl.tion. the gates OF purgatory are
thrown open and thousands and
Thousands OF ghosts who have died
without descendants come forth into
the land Of the living for q month
OF six weeks OF good times Every
household. especially those having
cny relatives among these unfortu-
nate ghosts. takes part in the cele-
hration. which lasts a month.
Shanghai although a city where
East and West meet and where
many believe that the Chinese are
becoming foreignized. dropping their
Old customs and taking up the ways
81 Europeans and Americans. Is OBJ
arriving this festival on most ex-
fensire scale In the Chinese city
ire priests in the City Temple are
sav.n- masses FOR the unhappy
ghosts. paper money IS being burned
for them and liberal offerings OF food
are brought 20 the temple by the
people.
Parade City God
The city god great gilded idol
Mas taken one ~ the temple re-
eenty 90 head a procession which
wound It's way through the narrow
streets On route 20 an ancient bury
ing ground. The procession most
bicturcsque and colorful. was made
no OF hundreds Of Chinese The city
eod. who rode on a throne. was care
fird bv richlv-costumed coolies.
Priests followed in hts wake playing
% their cymbals. wind Instruments
aad drums There were boys carry
ina miniature paper and bamboo
rickshaws and automobiles; house
bold furniture. garments. boats and
food-which were 90 be burned mt
the cemetery for the use OF the
.rleudless ghosts On the spirit land
a great dragon. more than a hum
drsd feet long gayly colored and
typical OF old China undulated
through the streets. carried by cool
ies Men and women. wearing gor-
geousIy embroidered red and gold
and blue costumes and headdresses
code on horses. with their hands
nacklcd Upon .luuirinc. I found
ehat the men and women on horse
back were either SID or just recover
ing and that thev promised 10 be
bound 20 the service OF the city god
FOR a period 81 from one 90 three
wears. provided they were completely
az satin and silk added to tho charm
erred. Fantastic flags or many colors
Of the spectacular procession.
COlorful Customs
AS YOU ride through the streets
or the International Settlement YOU
catch many Climpses OF the color
|rul customs which are observed by
the Chinese living side by side with
the Americans. Rows and rows or
.beau-ifully made paper garments.
.inciuding coats. trousers. hats. are
festooncd IN front or hundreds or
houses and shops In the city. I
N. eut rast one narrow street where
tie strings OF silver paper ghost
money were hanging completely
across the street Row after row
OF the silver paper money formed a
picturesque roofing for the dirty
street below. At night the Chinese
are burning great Tiles Of the
spirit money throughout the city
The belief ia that the ghosts. II
they are propi,iated by gifts Of
money. Will not haunt their homes
or shops. but vii leave them In
peace until the time OF the next
festival consecrated to the dead.
While having tea at the Column
bia Country club, the rendezvous
OF the Americans OF Shanghai. we
heard the clashing OF cymbals. the
beating OF drums and the wall OF
the Chinese flute and dashed out 10
the street TO find out what the mu-
sic was all about 4 picturesque
procession was passing; this was led
By two Chinese boys. each support
ing a huge figure. The two Idols
made or wood and highly painted.
were some hfteen feet high: their
object In life was 10 drive away the
evil spirits Twelve priests. IN cere-
rnoniaI robes. followed clashins
fhetr cymbals Several boys wear
ing green and red coats. followed.
bearing strings Of payer ghost mon
ey. which huns from poles suspend
cd on their shoulders. Every Few
yards the procession would stop,
and the boys would light tiny bon
fires made Of the spiri; money.
Red Candles Burn
At night the red candles burn on
the ancestral affairs In the mapority
OF the Chinese homes. and offerings
or food. clothing and money are
made 20 their ancestors. while in the
courtyard and on the curbins OF the
streets the tiny fires where paper
cfothine. money and articles which