China exclusively followed a lunar calendar in determining the times of planting, harvesting, and festival occasions. Though today people in China use the western calendar for most practical matters of daily life, the old system still serves as the basis for determining numerous seasonal holidays. This coexistence of two calendar systems has long been accepted by the people of China.
A lunar month is determined by the period required for the moon to complete its full cycle of 29 and a half days, a standard that makes the lunar year a full 11 days shorter than its solar counterpart. This difference is made up every 19 years by the addition of seven lunar months. The 12 lunar months are further divided into 24 solar divisions distinguished by the four seasons and times of heat and cold, all bearing close relationship to the yearly cycle of agricultural work.
The Chinese calendar - like the Hebrew - is a combined solar/lunar calendar in that it strives to have its years coincide with the tropical year and its months coincide with the synodic months. It is not surprising that a few similarities exist between the Chinese and the Hebrew calendar: An ordinary year has 12 months, a leap year has 13 months. An ordinary year has 353, 354, or 355 days, a leap year has 383, 384, or 385 days. When determining what a Chinese year looks like, one must make a number of astronomical calculations:
First, determine the dates for the new moons. Here, a new moon is the completely black moon (that is, when the moon is in conjunction with the sun), not the first visible crescent used in the Islamic and Hebrew calendars. The date of a new moon is the first day of a new month.
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Thousands long for a taste of 'lucky' Laba porridge China Daily, China - Laba, often regarded as the start of celebrations for the Chinese lunar New Year, falls on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month. ... |
 Washington Times | Credit Suisse sees China tax cuts within weeks Forbes, NY - HONG KONG, Jan 6 (Reuters) - China could announce tax cuts around the time of the Lunar New Year holiday late this month to spur consumption and shore up ... Hong Kong shares end morning lower on profit-taking in telecom ... |
 PR Web (press release) | The Year Of The Ox To Be Celebrated With Stamp Designed By FIT ... PR Web (press release), WA - Second of Twelve Chinese Lunar New Year Stamps, All Designed by Kam Mak, to be Unveiled at FIT on January 8. (Vocus/PRWEB ) January 5, 2009 -- In these ... |
 CCTV | China says global financial crisis not to dampen tourism in ... Xinhua, China - That won't affect the whole tourist market during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which will last a week from Jan.25, as inbound tourists account only a ... Crowds to welcome ox year City Hall to turn Chinese Celebrate New Year again with the Chinese |
 BBC News | China's holiday rush begins early BBC News, UK - By Michael Bristow China's annual travel rush over the Lunar New Year has begun early this year, partly due to the country's economic woes. ... |
 Lloyd's List | Blast in Chinese fireworks plant kills 13 workers Reuters - The blast, which comes three weeks before the Lunar New Year holidays, occured in an abandoned kiln that was being used illegally to make fireworks, ... China beefs up crackdown on illegal fireworks production ahead of ... Blasts at Chinese fireworks factories kill 14 Two blasts at illegal fireworks plants kill 14 in China over weekend |
China lead prices rise 40 pct as supply falls Reuters - He said many car owners in China fixed their vehicles and changed batteries before the Lunar New Year, boosting battery consumption ahead of the festival, ... |
Lawmaker calls to protect local workers' interest Macau Daily Times, Macau - ... construction works, the sacking of workers had been "apparent", and predicted that it would become "more serious" after the Chinese Lunar New Year. ... |
 CCTV | Spring Festival travel rush starts early China Daily, China - Many people who plan to return home for the Lunar New Year are leaving earlier to take advantage of the break. The railway authorities in the capital have ... China seeks cure for Spring Festival rail travel headache Tickets home cause rail rush Spring Festival travel rush begins |
 Shanghai Daily | Fans flock to cinemas as the hard times roll Shanghai Daily, China - From late November to the end of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday in early February, the Chinese mainland market will screen around 25 new year films, ... |
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