The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)(about) |
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Friday 10 February 1899
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THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
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Amongst Cliiiieso throughout tho world to-day II tho most important of utiy during the year Ne» Year's Day in China is the day of days It is by fu tho biggest festival of the year, mid is looked for. vi ard to lind observed b) all classes, whether rich ¡j poor In preparation for it lu China houses at. thoroughly cleoused from ton to bottom AU oil papers aro romovoil from walli or doors, and new bright papers, written with, all kinds of good wisha' take their places In some other eountnes whew Chinesu rosido this custom is also observe 1, but with thiB difference-tho good wishes, aro written both fa Chinese and III tliu language of the parbcuUr country in which thny rende L urthor, all clothet to bo worn on îiowr \ ear's D ij must bo washed es otherwise cleansed if the owner is not able to purchaso new ones All commercial transact»!» eutorea into (luring the voir must, if at ni! possible bo couclniied 1 eforo the. jeir closes On kow Years Í vc, auch as last eventoir
it is customary for every house, ncrordiog to it) moans, *o make a f oast The rich do this with abundance, but oven tho poorest provide somefhlnj; if over so titilo At these feasts intimatefnciidi imuglo freely, ami go from homo to house Heifo of houses aro of nicssiitv v ery busy in rec*hni visitors, and thoso who havo no home tics findmucS enjoyment lu loaming from houso to howe Zth howe, cr, a smo qui non that evcryono must be ia his own houso on Now \ear s morning to btuigthe
new year in
Fho method of counting tho years is somewhat peculiar The present Lniporor Kwnngeui hu bra ii years on (IIB throno, and this j ear counts 24, but when hois succeeded bv a new Emperor toe yew will begin again with number one If the old year ROOS out with feasting tho new year comes in with. fasting, for it is ineunibont that its first hours bs kept a strict fast I<o meat or fish may bo eaten for brouLfast, but only vegetable food lhe idea is that everything appertaining to the old year shall bs absolutely wiped out Crackers nrostroaglrinen danoo, bat! atthoclosoof tho old and beginning at
tho now ) car
After broikfast on New Year's morning fruaai bogiu their calls First, there aro tlio familj eather inga, winch includo ill ^enerat ona alive Irejuti aro given uni received, but aged relations and fneadj aro spociilly romambored buch things asneweea
son s fruit, eales, i-e , form the staple of these pre.
scuts
Alt mends-not relatives-as far as possible call and present good wishes w bicli aro accompanied by a rod card bearing tho fru nil's name which is prs. sontoil with both hand« lhe moro active of Came» bogi n those visits earliest I lioso m mourning for the death of relatives use a light pink card with a email letter pnnted over tho narnu Ou îiew YeereEre evoiy houso ia brightly lighted throughout, and kept eo the \\ holo night, und also during New ¿ear's Day and Isight Lanterns are hung oneierydoor and in somo eases uro kept there uutil February 15 or l8 Huso rejoicings aro common to tho whole of the Chinese umpire, mid are largely accompanied bj bren orks 1 ho actual timo valles somewhat in differ
ent villages, but overywhere it is a most happy
ti mo
Iho uniul festivities nora held lnSrdneykst night, and w ill bo coutinuod fo<- tho uext few days. Mr Quoug fart's residence at Ashfield has always been brilliantly Decorated, but ou acconntoftbs recent death of his mother and brother benia mourning, and consequent!? he uill not have say fcstivul, but his New "1 car s card is printed on light pink paper, which signifies mourning Mr Quouj Tart is a Mandarin of the fifth rank with honour Tbo decoration for this order of Mundunnie s button ou tho hat, but when it is accompanied " with honour" u decoration in the shape of a feather li attached A rather notable item of interest II the fact that there is cot a Government official repre
seiiting China in tho n hole of Austral«, Italia, matters m dispute aro nearly always referred to air, Quong Tart, whom the Chinese tbroURhontAw traita hold m the highest, respect A visit to tomeo) the Chinese mcrchnuts m Loner George street lut night showed that they intended to keep their hlr Year's Day in good old Chinese fashion andu same may bo said of those in Pitt and Goulbta streets for tho vunous establishments will be clona until Monday so far as business is concerned II» Chinese INew Year cards, or moro strictly paper, ra red and about Cm long and 3iu deep, and tbeaeari sent to friends throughout the world