The Chinese make their new year commence on the new moon, nearest to the
time when the sun's place is in the 15th degree of Aquarius. It is the
greatest festival observed in the empire. Both the government and the
people, rich and poor, take a longer or shorter respite from their cares
and their labours at the new year.
The last day of the old year is an anxious time to all debtors and
creditors, for it is the great pay-day, and those who cannot pay are
abused and insulted, and often have the furniture of their house all
smashed to pieces by their desperate creditors.
On the 20th of the twelfth moon, by an order from court, all the seals
of office, throughout the empire, are locked up, and not opened till the
20th of the first moon. By this arrangement there are thirty days of
rest from the ordinary official business of government. They attend,
however, to extraordinary cases.
During the last few days of the old year, the people perform various
domestic rites. On one evening they sweep clean the furnace and the
hearth, and worship the god of their domestic fires.
On new-year's eve, they perfume hot water with the leaves of Wongpe and
Pumelo trees, and bathe in it. At midnight they arise and dress in the
best clothes and caps they can procure; then towards heaven kneel down,
and perform the great imperial ceremony of knocking the forehead on the
ground thrice three times. Next they illuminate as splendidly as they
can, and pray for felicity towards some domestic idol. Then they visit
all the gods in the various surrounding temples, burn candles, incense,
gilt paper, make bows, and prostrate pray.
These services to the gods being finished, they sally forth about
daylight in all directions, to visit friends and neighbours, leaving a
red paper card at each house. Some stay at home to receive visitors. In
the house, sons and daughters, servants and slaves, all dress, and
appear before the heads of the family, to congratulate them on the new
year.
After new year's day, drinking and carousing, visiting and feasting,
idleness and dissipation, continue for weeks. All shops are shut, and
workmen idle, for a longer or shorter period, according to the
necessities, or the habits, of the several parties. It is, in Canton,
generally a month before the business of life returns to its ordinary
channel.