ABSTRACT
The celebration of New Year’s commences very early on the morning of the first day of the new year. Preparations relating to these festivities have all been made previously, a description of which will be found where the annual customs relating to the latter part of the twelfth month are described. The grand object of the joyous festival before the tablets is usually explained to be to secure the bestowment of numerous children and more remote descendants in the direct line of the family. Many families of the place perform a ceremony in their homes, which is called “receiving the spring,” on the same day that the prefect presides in the public procession. On the day preceding the solar term called “the commencement of spring” occurs a public procession in honour of spring. The ceremony of “opening the seal” at all the official establishments is substantially the same.
