SHING-LEANG.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1039, 31 January 1911, Page 5

SHING-LEANG.

CHINESE NEW YEAR YESTERDAY,

iThe. Chinaman, in his outward. Earning lit any rate, is so. of ten .a person of settled gravity and staid demeanour, that it ia a littio startling to find him engaged in such a sceiie of light-hearted revelry as was enacted yesterday aboard the British steamer Strathalbyn, uow lying' at the Taranaki Street Wharf. Tho explanation, however, is simple. Yesterday was Shing-Leani (New Year), honoured by Chinamen from time immemorial as a day of festivity and rejoicing. The yellow mariners aboard the Strathalbyn had been making their preparations tor. days previously. .Ducks ard fowls, puddings of mysterious origin and Strange _ texture, and., other peculiar'concoctions in which the Chinese - epicure delights, had been 'provided in'ample store. The Chinese, began their day of joy with a rattling explosion of fireworks. It was so vigorously maintained that the officers of tno ship, apprehensive of fire,- deemed it wise, ultimately, to; direct .that this portion of the celebration, should -'bo transferred to a \acant section ashore. Afterwards there >vas. iciuch feasting, and every Oriental engaged had tho best kind of a good time. The appetite of a Chinaman on an occasionlikfi this is a thing to marvel at. They feasted' all dry yesterday, and an intruder who peeped down their fore-castle-hatch at a late hour .last evening saw them eating still. v ■ • Yesterday, a reporter was informed last evening by .the Chinese Consul (Mr. Lung Yiang Hwang), ,was the, first day of the third year in the reign of Hsuan Lung, the present Emperor of China. It is in this way .that the Chinese reckon the tale of.'years; - . Instead of proceeding• unbrokenly from a fixed point, as we do, they commence afresh on every occasion when a new Emperor ascends the throne. The precise origin of the Shing-Leaqg, oelebrations is'lost in the mists of antiquity, but they have: been in vogue in China for thousands of years. On the last day of- the old-year-all: business is ; tettled up'.! and custom enjoins that-debts 'fihall 'be discharged. The first day of the new year is a universal holiday. Officials aid private "people who can afford it nsually extend their holiday over the Succeeding fortnight, and many devote a whole month' to relaxation and enjoyinchty. : - • Shinj ".Leaiig. has no -direct religious significance,.but the occasion'is seized by many people, to worship in the temples, 'and to display-in their own homes that -veneration for.ancestors which is a dis-tinguishing-.mark-of ..the Chinese char-acter.-Custom 'directs that at this sea- ' sbn .children and'young people shall pay :respectful obeisance to their elders ana teachers. Good-Chinese always endeavour if they are journeying away from home to return before .the New Year, just as inany of our own people still endeavour to spend Christmas at iiome. ' ' • Throughout 1 the Flowery Land ■feasting' and revelry obtain on New Year's Day. Thron^ns-crowds make carnival in the streets of the cities. Streams of joyous music pour from the houses, and the . noise of exploding fireworks adds another floU to the festivities'.' Friends exchange visits and good y;ishes. In the evening processions pass through the streets with greit drason lanterns borne aloft.