PRINCIPAL FESTIVALS OBSERVED BY THE
CHINESE.
Jan. 2d.-XIIth inoon, 8th day. Ancient festival of the prince and his officers going on the annual hunt. Also of the Julai Budha.
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Jan. 18 h.-XIIth moon, 24th day. The god of the furnace ascends to heaven to report up. n the conduct of the family to the Gemmeous August Shángtí; hence people pay their adorations to that deity, and sié tsáu, thank the furnace.' This popular superstition, though not peculiar to any class, seems most closely allied to the Táu sect.
Jan. 23d.-XIIth moon, 30th day. All the gods descend to the earth.
Jan. 24th.-Ist moon, 1st day. Yuen tán, the first morning, or new year's day. The period of new year is almost the only time of universal holiday in China. Other times and seasons are regarded only by a few, or by particular classes—but the new year is accompanied with a general cessation of business. The officer, the merchant, and the laborer, all equally desist from work, and zealously en- gage in visiting and feasting,-occasionally making offerings at the temples of those deities whose peculiar aid they wish to implore. Government offices are closed for about ten days before, and twenty days after new year; during which period none but very important business is transacted. On the last evening of the old year, all tradesmen's bills and small debts are paid. This is perhaps the reason why it is cailed chú seik, 'the evening of dismissal.'
Jan. 25th.-Ist moon, 2d day. Ché Ta.yuen shwái; a deified warrior. Jan. 29th.-Ist moon, 6th day. Ting-kwáng, a Budhist sage, born.
Jan. 30th -Ist moon, 7th day.—Jin jih, *inan-day.' The first ten days of the year are named after various animals, fowl-day,' 'dog-day,' &c., of which the seventh, na-day,' is the greatest.
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Feb. 1st. Ist noon. 9th day. Yuh-hwáng Shángtí birthday's; this deity is the highest of the Tau sect.
Feb. 2d.-Ist moon, 10th day. Wú tú shin kiun, five lares of the household; they are this day placed on the ground in various quarters of the house for its protection; and the ceremony is repeated on the tenth of the four following months.
Feb. 4th-Ist moon, 12th day. Leih chun term, or festival of spring. This day, the period of the sun reaching the 15th degree in Aquarius, is one of the chief days of the Chinese calendar, and is celebrated with great pomp as well by the government as by the people. In every capital city, there are made, at this period, two clay images, of a man and a buffalo. The day previous to the festi. val, the chítú, or chief city magistrate, goes out to ying chun, meet spring; on which occasion children are carried about on men's shoulders, each vying with his neighbor in the gorgeousness and fancifulness of the children's dresses. The fol lowing day, being the day of the festival, the prefect again appears as priest of Spring, in which capacity he is, for the day, the first man in the province. Hence the chief officers do not move from home on this day. After he has struck the buffalo with a whip two or three times, ip token of commencing the labors of agriculture, the populace then stone the image, till they break it in pieces. The festivities continue ten days.
Feb. 7th.-Ist moon. 15th day.-Shái.tang, or feast of lanterns, so called by Europeans. At night all classes illuminate the temples, houses, shops, &c. with fanciful lanterns, and asscible at convivial parties, called lantern feasts. Offer. ings of lanterns are made at the temples of the gods.
Feb. 11th-Ist moon. 19th day. Chang-chun, a celebrated physician born; deified by the Tauists. He shrine is placed in doctor's shops.