The Chinese calendar is in fact not just used in China, but also throughout much of Asia. This calendar dates back to five hundred years before Christ. Although the Gregorian calendar is used to mark the passing of the days, important Chinese dates are only found on the Chinese calendar.
This calendar is called a lunisolar calendar, because it uses the phases of the moon to calculate the dates, as well as using the sun in this way. It charts a tropical year, which is one in which a full season is completed by the sun, so that it has completed three hundred and sixty degrees. The exact timing of the important festivals in a Chinese year are worked out from theses calculations.
The year begins with Chinese New Year, which is a very important holidays, and is held on the first day of the first month. It is a huge celebration in the community. It is traditional for houses to be thoroughly cleaned before the New Year, sweeping out any bad luck that might have occurred, and to make room for good luck to come in.
Windows and doors may be decorated with cut outs that symbolize good fortune and wealth, all in the very lucky colour red. New Years Eve is a time of feasting, culminating with fire crackers to welcome the New Year. The next morning any children in the family are given money in red paper envelopes. This festival is also called the Spring festival.
After the harvest has been gathered then it is celebrated with the Mid Autumn festival, which is sometimes called the Moon festival. This is held around September, or October time. The exact day depends on when the moon is at its roundest and brightest.
People celebrate by watching the moon, and also eat moon cakes which are round and sweet. It is also known as the Lantern festival, as many lanterns are lit, including floating ones.
During the winter time then the major celebration is the Dongzhi festival. This takes place on the winter solstice which is the shortest day of the year. Families celebrate by having a large feast.
This festival is thought to have its roots in the yin and yang philosophy of life, in that after this date the days will begin drawing out. With more daylight hours people will experience an increase in energy. Chinese dates mark very important points in the calendar.
