Happy Lunar New Year

This year, Lunar New Year is just one day ahead of Li Chun 立春 which marks the beginning of the solar year. Normally they are not as close but once in a blue moon, they can even be on the same day.

It is interesting to note that customarily, Chinese people celebrate only the Lunar New Year and not Li Chun. Of course nowadays Chinese people also celebrate New Year according to the Western Calendar.

There is another important day Chinese people consider even more important than Lunar New Year. This is Dong Zhi 冬至 which is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. We say 冬大過年. That is why in recent years, some Chinese astrologers consider this the beginning of a year and change the stem and branch of the year on Dong Zhi instead of on Li Chun.

JY