The Lunar New Year begins on the second New Moon after the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice, which is around December 21. This rule ensures that Lunar New Year typically falls between January 21 and February 20. In 2024 the Lunar New Year was late–here’s why The Lunar New Year usually coincides with the second new Moon after the winter solstice, between January 21 to February 21 each year. On rare occasions, it begins on the third new Moon. On rare occasions, it begins on the third new Moon. Each month begins with a new moon, and the new year begins on the new moon closest to the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Usually, that puts the holiday between Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated by the Chinese on the second New Moon after the winter solstice. This year, such a New Moon will occur on January 29 at 12:36 GMT. Due to the difference in time zones, in China, it will occur on January 29 at 20:36. When does the Lunar New Year end? The dragon dance, performed around the Chinese New Year, is said to bring good luck. According to this calendar, a new year always begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice - in Because the Chinese calendar defines the lunar month containing the winter solstice as the 11th month, the Lunar New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Just like New Year according to the Gregorian calendar (January 1), Lunar New Year celebrations start on the night before the first day of the new year. Lunar New Year — which includes Chinese New Year, Seollal in Korea, Tet in Vietnam and more — begins on Jan. 29, kicking off more than two weeks of parties, customs and copious feasts. Marking the first new moon of the lunar calendar, it falls on January 29 in 2025, kicking off the 15-day Spring Festival. and his wife Ho Ching (R) mix a traditional Chinese lunar new year ties to those countries.1 The Lunar New Year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice and falls between January 21 and February 19 on the Gregorian calendar used in the United States.2 The Chinese calendar uses a 60-year cycle known as the sexagenary cycle. The current cycle began in 1984 and ends in 2043. Rooted in lunisolar calendars across East and Central Asia–most often the Chinese Lunar calendar and its variants–Lunar New Year starts with the second new moon after the winter solstice. In 2024, the Lunar New Year starts on Saturday, February 10, and ends on Saturday, February 24. The precise date is the second new moon after the December solstice (December 21) Each year the date is pushed back by 10, 11, or even 12 days compared to the previous year. It’s always true unless the New Year will fall outside the range of Jan 21 to Feb 21. Determining the date of Chinese New Year requires some complicated calculations. In most cases, it falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. In the Gregorian calendar, the solstice is around Dec. 21. That's why Chinese New Year typically occurs in late January or during one of the first three weeks of February. When is Chinese New Year? The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the traditional Chinese calendar, a lunisolar calendar that blends solar, lunar, and other cycles. The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21. Each year the New Year in China falls on a different date than on the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year begins on the second new moon after the Winter solstice. This celebration takes place between January 21 and February 19, based on the lunar calendar. It highlights the importance of lunar phases in marking time within Chinese culture. Explanation: Understanding the Chinese New Year From the earliest records, the beginning of the year occurred at a new moon near the Winter Solstice. In the late second century B.C.E., a calendar reform established the practice of requiring the Winter Solstice (entering Capricorn) to occur in month 11, as still practised today. The Chinese New Year- also called Spring Festival- is celebrated The Chinese calendar defines the lunar month with winter solstice as the 11th month, which means that Chinese New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice (rarely the third if an intercalary month intervenes). The Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, with the date varying each year, according to Cosmosphere. More: Winter festivals warm the spirit. Here's where to chill The Chinese New Year is the second New Moon after the winter solstice. THE CHINESE CALENDAR. The Chinese New Year in 2024 occurs on February 10th. In terms of the 60 Year Cycle, this is a year, the auspicious Year of the Dragon, , and the year of yang wood, , which begins the cycle of Heavenly Stems. The Chinese New Year is defined as the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice. Happy New Year! The New Moon on January 29, 2025 marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. It is a spring festival landing on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese celebrate this grand New Year festival for seven days. Iconic red lanterns and red envelopes are everywhere.
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