China Internet Information Center
December 2005
1
1st/11th mo.
2 3
4 5 6 7
Great Snow
8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
15th/11th mo.
16 17
18 19 20 21 22
Winter Solstice
23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1st/12th mo.
Holidays and Observances:
15: Respect for the Aged Day of the Hani people, observed on the 15th day of the 11th lunar month. Young people dig up a pine tree on a nearby mountain and replant it in the village while women prepare food to serve all the elderly people in the village. All the villagers dance around the tree, wishing the senior citizens good health and a long life.
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.
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 2005, there are official work weekends in February and October, and one divided between late April and early May.
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°

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
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