The Western New Year is based on the Gregorian solar calendar - known in Chinese as 公历 (gōng lì) or 阳历 (yáng lì), whereas the Chinese New Year is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar - known in Chinese as 农历 (nóng lì) or 阴历 (yīn lì). The following discussion may help you get a better understanding of the differences between Chinese Lunar New Year and Western New Year. Time to Celebrate. The biggest difference must be the time of celebration. Western people have a fixed date to celebrate western new year, which is the first day of January on the Gregorian calendar each year. Chinese New Year Dates - Chinese new year dates as per English calendar Chinese Age Calculator - Calculate your Chinese Age & Chinese birth date English & Chinese Calendar Dates, information for January 29, 2025 (29/1/2025) Chinese New Year is the most important annual celebration in China and it is observed over a 15-day period, culminating in Lantern Festival. Western New Year. Western New Year is celebrated on 1 st January each year according to the Gregorian calendar, known in Chinese as gōnglì (公历). Celebrations begin on New Year’s Eve (31 st December Chinese New Year Dates: The date of Chinese New Year varies annually, typically falling between January 21 and February 20. This variance is due to the lunar calendar’s reliance on moon cycles, with the celebration commencing on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year, marking the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. It begins on the first day of the first lunar month, usually between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar, and lasts for 15 days. The festival marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar, and each The Chinese calendar has 12 or 13 lunar months per year, and is about 20 to 50 days behind the Gregorian calendar. It's used to determine the dates of traditional Chinese festivals, like Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn. It's also used for Chinese zodiac astrology, and many Chinese still celebrate their Chinese calendar birthdays. Content Preview Chinese New Year in 2025 starts on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and lasts until the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Rather than following the Western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Rather than following the western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases. Each phase cycle spans approximately 29 days with People born in the Years of the Snake including 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, and 2025 will experience their Zodiac Year of Birth (Ben Ming Nian). 2026 Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 17th and it is the Year of Horse. Happy new year! Wednesday, Jan. 29, marks the Chinese New Year. is also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. The occasion is celebrated in China and many other Asian communities, and Your birth year determines your Chinese zodiac sign, but it can get tricky, as the lunar calendar varies from the solar, or Gregorian, calendar. Because the dates of Chinese New Year change every year, individuals born in January or February will need to pay special attention to their birth date in addition to their birth year. Rather than following the western Gregorian Calendar with 365-day years, the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases. Each phase cycle spans approximately 29 days with Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan used the Chinese calendar and celebrated Chinese New Year just as China did. Nowadays, both Japan and China have adopted the Western calendar. However, Japan celebrates Western New Year while China still celebrates Chinese New Year. Why does today's Japan celebrate Western New Year instead of Chinese New Year? If you have a Western calendar that indicates the phases of the Moon, this will give you an approximation of the date of Chinese New Year. But notice that the Chinese calendar uses the time of new Moon in China. As explained above, Chinese New Year will always fall between January 21 and February 21. What is Chinese New Year? it follows a lunar calendar based on the moon's 12 phases instead of the Western Gregorian Calendar. Each phase cycle spans approximately 29 days, with the full Note: China public holidays( ) include the New Year’s Day, Chinese Spring Festival (from Lunar New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the New Year), Qingming Festival, May Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the National Day (from Oct.1 to Oct.7). Holidays except the Chinese Spring Festival and National Day are usually 3-day During the Han Dinasty, the reign of Emperor Wudi decided to celebrate it on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the world-famous Chinese New Year. After the foundation of the Republic of China in 1912, the Solar/Gregorian calendar was adopted and it began to be celebrated on January 1st. On the Gregorian (Western) calendar, Chinese New Year always falls between 21st January and 20th February. How long is the Chinese New Year in 2025? In 2025, Chinese The new year in 2025 falls on Jan. 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Wednesday to Feb. 4.
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