Chinese Festivals: Knowing the Roots

Abstract

Traditionally, China has always used the lunisolar calendar with month length determined by lunar phases with each month beginning on the darkest day. But with the end of the Empire in 1911, China switched to the more international Gregorian, or sun calendar—as used in all western countries—for standard dating. The lunisolar calendar, however, continues to hold influence. One of its most important influences is on the dating of festivals and holidays. These festivals, including the Chinese New Year and Moon Festival, fall on different dates of the Gregorian calendar each year because the two calendars have different year lengths. In contrast to traditional festivals, state holidays follow the Gregorian calendar (→see Fig. 44.1).