EASTERN FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES,
FOR THE YEAR 1882.
CHINESE.
JANUARY. -2nd.-Death of Emperor Kang Hi (A.D. 1723). 4th.-Fifteenth day of the eleventh moon. 5th.--Solar term, "little cold;" sun in Capricorn. 6th.-Fête day of Amitabha Buddha. 8th.-Day of general abstinence. The spirits report to Heaven. Fête day of the Bodhisattva called "nine lotus flowers." 12th.-Fête day of Chang Sinen, a Tauist god of parturition. The star goddess of the southern measure descends. A Tauist fast day. 15th.-Tauist fête day of the dragon spirits of the ground. 16th.-Fête day of G'u An, a deified Buddhist priest. 18th.- Buddhist fête day of Surya Dêva. 20th.-First day of the twelfth moon. Solar term, "great cold." Sun enters Aquarius. 24th.-Death of Emperor T'ung Chi (A.D. 1875). The spirits report to Heaven. 25th.-Death of an Empress. Fête day of Julai Buddha. Tauist fast day. 29th.-Day of general abstinence. 30th.-Death of an Empress. 31st.-Death of an Empress.
FEBRUARY.-3rd.-Fifteenth day of the twelfth moon. Fête day of Wen, a deified warrior. 4th. Solar term, "spring sets in;" sun in Aquarius. Ceremony of meeting the Spring by breaking a clay figure of an ox. Fête day of the Tauist god of the Southern Mountain, 8th.-Fête day of Lu Pan, god of carpenters and masons. 9th.-Fête day of the Tauist star god, the supreme ruler of the Celestial Dragon. 12th. The god of the hearth reports to Heaven. Auspicious day for worship. 13th.-Death of an Empress. 17th.-Fête day of the Bodhisattva, Padma Vyuha. All the Buddhas descend to search out the merits and demerits of mankind. The star goddess of the northern measure descends. 18th.-New Year's day. Fowl day. A. Tauist fast day. Solar term, "rain water;" sun enters Pisces. 19tb.-Dog day. Fête day of Che Ta-yen, a deified warrior. 20th.-Pig day. 21st.-Sheep day. 22nd.- Cow day. 23rd.-Horse day. Fête day of the god of wealth, and of Dipamkara Baddha. 24th.-Man day. Death of the Emperor Yung Chêng (A.D. 1735). 25th.---Day of general abstinence. 27th.-Fête day of the dragon spirits of the ground. 28th.-Death of an Empress.
MARCH.-1st.- Fête day of Wen and Hü, deified warriors worshipped at Fat- shan. 3rd.-Death of the Emperor Tao Kwang (A.D. 1850). 4th-Fifteenth day of the first moon. Feast of lanterns. Fête day of Shang Yuen, a Tauist god and ruler of heaven, and of Yu Shing, a Tauist saint. 5th.-Solar term, " movement of larvae;' sun in Pisces. Fête day of Shen Ts'ai, Tauist saint, guardian of the door. Aus- picious day for prayers for wealth and progeny. 10th.-Death of an Empress. 11th. -A day of general abstinence. 12th.-Death of an Empress. 14th.---Day of gen- eral abstinence. 18th.-Death of an Empress. 19th. First day of second moon. Fête day of judge in first court of hades. 20th.-Spring worship of the gods of the land and grain. Birthday of the philosopher Mencius (B.C. 371). 21st.-Solar term, "vernal equinox;" sun enters Aries. Fête day of the star god of literature. 23rd.-Day of general abstinence. The spirits report to Heaven. 25th.-Death of an Empress. Fête day of Chang Chun, a deified physician. 28th.-Fête day of the dragon spirits of the ground. 29th.-Death of an Empress. 31st.-Fête day of Hung Shing, god of the Canton river.
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