Multiplicity of Holidays in Northern City wat um Own Comesroxoet Dairen, Feb. 11- Hardly anywhere in the world car. there ben city which has such a plethora' of holidays as Dairen. Japanese, Manchu-eum-Chinese, Rus-lan, Brilish, American and hosts of other days of rest' tumble over one nother ike particularly lively por= Dolses at play. The Manchu-cum-Chinese and Japanese are enjoyed by all with the notable exception of the newspaper fraternity: the others by their specie nationals, For instance Since Becsinber 31 no ess than three opening days of the year have been celebrated, to-day being lunar New Year.
First came oMeial Now Year's Day, for Japanese and foreigners alike, neeording to the Gregorian Calendar. This was followed by Russian New Year a fortnight later, as dictated by the Julien Calendar and to-day commonly known throughout the Far East as Chinese New Year.
Oultwardly there is ttle difference to be observed between the ordinary foreign manner of celebrating New Year and that of the Japanese. For both it is a time of rejoicing, time. when presents are given and restived and when friends and relatives are called on, the visits being marked as it were with a stirrup cup to speed the parting suest_on the way to his next port of call. One divasity, however is that after New Year's Day the foreigners are satis-fed o let it go at that, whereas the Japanese continue with at least three Gays of merry-making.
The New Year season this year was a time of particular jolliieation, the whole city seeming to abandon self to the delights that were so lavishly displayed on all sides and there were cloudy heads and denud~ ced wallets there were no reeriminatons or repining.
Russian New Year, though cole rated far from the home country, proved a day of laughter and song, with the throats cleaned periodically for more melodious efforts from rol~ Ming basses and silvery tenors, all preceded by a session at church and though they may have been inwardly harassed by thoughts of the country they may never again see, externally there was nothing to give this Im+ pression.
Now comes the lunar now year; preliminaries having been In. action for some days with the sputtering of minor crackers and the booming major ones, the popping and evash-Ing growing steadily ax the day came nearer, 'And nothing enn spoil the manner of observing this dayne It has always been carried out, Dynasties may cchenge, republics may' be proclaimed, dielatotships may creep into ex-Istence, new empires may arise vat the Chinese and" Dlanchus is -Manchoukuo will continue to celebrate the Mest day of the frst moon fall the deep solemnity and gay me eldentals og of old, One of the practices which form part of the Chinese New Year in this part of the world might easily be followed elsewhere much to the enhancement of Uading methods. The scheme marks actually the beginning of n Now year with the slate wiped lean of all past indebtedness, for the Manchus and Chinese still regard a blot on the escutcheon if they are unable to pay up everything that they owe nnd at the same time they cexpeet that all that is owing to them will be paid:
'Another interesting and laudable custom at the lunar new year Is in the manner in which relatives from far and near' gather at the home fof the. most fluent member or at that of the recognized chief of the family. This revives and strengthens the spirit of family loyalty and assists In better understanding among, all.
February 11 this year is also Kigensotsa or Empire Day for Japan ton which the founding of the Japanese Empire 2407 years ago is celebrated.
Februny 12 takes us further afield that day Americans in Dairen celebrate the birthday anniversary of 'Abisham Lincoln. 'This is nota major holiday in this city. It will be informally celebrated' at the 'American' Consulate and in the homes of American citizens.
And thus it woes on. Holiday after holiday arrives, some days when practically everyone downs tools and others when but a select few give themselves over to a rapt apprecia-ton of what the days mean.
Tneidentolly not all of Dairen is satisfied that Kigensetsu and Chinese New Year arrived on the same day 1937 although it is pointed out that it might be taken as a. symbol of the Indivisibility" between Japan and "Manchoukuo. Certain of the residents here take it that they have been robbed of a holiday—a sad state of affairs in this holiday-ridden town,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.