Salt Lake Telegram | 1902-02-07 | Page 8 | Celestials Celebrate

CELESTIALS CELEBRATE Chinese New Year F Festivities s Now in Progress Some Progress Some Strange Old Ceremonies i I Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year Those who dwell in the neighborhood d of the th devout Celestials realized this fact fact in th the s small a l hou hours s of the morning v Shortly after after- midnight the fumes of incense made made the a atmosphere of Plum alley smell to and the popping popping popping pop pop- ping of crackers wakened f awakened restless sleepers For fifteen days the te strange ceremonies ceremonies ceremonies cere cere- monies will go on The yellow people now keep open house tall Q all and throngs of the curious go everywhere examining ing the queer articles of of merchandise drinking the tea watching the weird ceremonies the opium smoking and the gambling On t j day Clay no Chinaman Chinaman Chinaman China China- man Will speak an evil word He will at athis athis athis his most bow down before his god and nd ask for himself and his friends th the blessings of ot luck health and prosperity Be Ie will visit his friends presenting them with the great i red strips of paper in lieu of a calling I card and andU if he can afford it will put on ona ona ona a brand new pair of shoes All this will help to bring him luck throughout the New Year The origin of these strange ceremonies ceremonies ceremonies cere cere- monies is lost In the r mist of old One aged resident of Plum alley when asked last night as as to how long they had been observed in his native land said Oh no no can tell five tousand year ten thousand year five hundred tousand year no no can tell tell nobody nobody tell Mr 11 Dave Hing the well-known well Interpreter Interpreter in interpreter In- In who kindly explained th the observance of ot the day and nd the significance significance cance of the die ceremonies stated th that t according to Chinese history the time had been thus observed In China for over years