How is lunar new year determined

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chunjie in Chinese, is determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun, and it is used to determine the dates of traditional Chinese holidays and celebrations.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which typically falls between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of the Lunar New Year varies each year because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, which takes approximately 29.5 days to orbit the Earth.

Here's how the Lunar New Year is determined:

  1. The lunisolar calendar is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal from the Chinese zodiac. The 12 animals are: Rat, Ox (or Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (or Hare), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig (or Boar).
  2. The calendar also includes a 10-year cycle of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), which is used to determine the characteristics of each year.
  3. The Lunar New Year is determined by the position of the moon and the sun in the sky. The new moon must occur when the moon is between the sun and the Earth, and the sun must be in the constellation of the Rat (or the first animal of the Chinese zodiac).
  4. The date of the Lunar New Year is determined by the Chinese calendar's lunisolar cycle, which is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun. The cycle is divided into 12 months, with each month beginning on the day of the new moon.
  5. The exact date of the Lunar New Year is determined by the Chinese calendar's lunisolar cycle, which is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun. The cycle is divided into 12 months, with each month beginning on the day of the new moon.

In summary, the Lunar New Year is determined by the position of the moon and the sun in the sky, and it is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The exact date of the Lunar New Year varies each year because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, which takes approximately 29.5 days to orbit the Earth.