China Internet Information Center
December 2006
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5
15th/10th mo.		 6 7
Great Snow		 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20
1st/11th mo.		 21 22
Winter Solstice		 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

Holidays and Observances:
1: World AIDS Day.
3: International Day of Disabled Persons.
5: International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.
10: Human Rights Day.
12: Commemoration Day of Xi'an Incident.
13: Commemoration Day of Nanjing Massacre.
20: Anniversary of Macao Special Administrative Region
22: Winter Solstice, the earliest of the 24 seasonal division points falling on December 22 or 23 on the Gregorian calendar. In ancient China, it was believed that as the days grow longer, young, positive things become stronger and stronger. Chinese families usually celebrate it by eating dumplings or eating a dish made of red beans and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and evil spirits.
25: Christmas Day.
26: Birthday of Mao Zedong.
29: International Day for Biological Diversity
Notes:
1. In the traditional calendar, the new moon indicates the first day of a lunar month; the full moon marks the 15th day.
2. Dates in red are official holidays. To give workers three week-long holidays during the year, the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays. In 2006, there are an official work weekend in April, and two divided between late January and early February and between late September and early October.
3. The 24 Seasonal Division Points:
Order & Name of Seasonal Division Point Sun's Position at Ecliptic Gregorian Calendar Date
Spring 1.Beginning of Spring
2.Rain Water
3.Waking of Insects
4.Vernal Equinox
5.Pure Brightness
6.Grain Rain		 315°
330°
345°
0°
15°
30°		 4 or 5 February
19 or 20 February
5 or 6 March
20 or 21 March
5 or 6 April
20 or 21 April
Summer 7.Beginning of Summer
8.Grain Budding
9.Grain in Ear
10.Summer Solstice
11.Slight Heat
12.Great Heat		 45°
60°
75°
90°
105°
120°		 5 or 6 May
21 or 22 May
6 or 7 June
21 or 22 June
7 or 8 July
23 or 24 July
Autumn 13.Beginning of Autumn
14.Limit of Heat
15.White Dew
16.Autumnal Equinox
17.Cold Dew
18.Frost's Descent		 135°
150°
165°
180°
195°
210°		 7 or 8 August
23 or 24 August
7 or 8 September
23 or 24 September
8 or 9 October
23 or 24 October
Winter 19.Beginning of Winter
20.Slight Snow
21.Great Snow
22.Winter Solstice
23.Slight Cold
24.Great Cold		 225°
240°
255°
270°
285°
300°		 7 or 8 November
23 or 22 November
7 or 8 December
22 or 23 December
5 or 6 January
20 or 21 January
Traditional Chinese Festivals
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