. Old and new Japan . own special food, and its distinc-tive festival duty and observance. Even the wearing ofparticular clothes is a matter of custom ; for example, everyone wears the best they possess for the first three days ofthe festival ; then till the seventh day the second best areworn; and from that time till the end of the month ofJanuary new garments, though not the very best, are therule. To call on every one of his friends and acquaintanceswithin the first seven days is the duty of Japanese men ;but doubtless on account of the many duties and claimsupon their time which fall to th
. Old and new Japan . own special food, and its distinc-tive festival duty and observance. Even the wearing ofparticular clothes is a matter of custom ; for example, everyone wears the best they possess for the first three days ofthe festival ; then till the seventh day the second best areworn; and from that time till the end of the month ofJanuary new garments, though not the very best, are therule. To call on every one of his friends and acquaintanceswithin the first seven days is the duty of Japanese men ;but doubtless on account of the many duties and claimsupon their time which fall to the lot of the women of thehousehold, they are given an extension of time up till theend of February in which to complete their New Yearscalls. Presents play an important part in Japanese life, and atno time is there so much present-giving as at the NewYear and just before it. Upon the housewife devolves theduty of despatching or giving presents to every one whoduring the year has been of the slightest assistance to her. w O u w w — w<2 O X WH FESTIVALS QUAINT & BEAUTIFUL 113 husband, her children, or herself. From this tax—forsuch it becomes when one has need to employ many-people—no self-respecting Japanese would think of tryingto escape. The man who happened to be called in tomend the garden fence, or replace a rotten plank in theengawa with a sound one, a few days before the end ofthe old year; the new maid who enters a place late inDecember, will both be entitled to and expect a , the latter will probably receive one also fromher old employer. Every servant in the household willhave a gift of clothing, and even those of friends at whosehouse members of the family may have visited frequentlyor stayed during the year will receive some remembrance;and every dependent, poor relation, employd, and even thechildren of the last-named will receive something accord-ing to the amount of service rendered, or the wealth orgenerosity of the giver. To friends or acq
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidoldnewja, booksubjectjapan
