How does the Chinese calendar work? What are some traditions associated with Chinese New Year?

Here’s how the Chinese calendar works, and some traditions associated with it.

First, what is a lunisolar calendar?

The purpose of any calendar is to mark the passage of time.

A solar calendar uses the time it takes the Sun to make a single revolution around Earth (roughly 365 days) to mark a year. A lunar calendar, on the other hand, is based on the Moon’s 29.53-day synodic orbit around Earth.

A 12-month long lunar calendar adds up to 354 days, roughly 11 days short of a solar year. This means that over time, lunar calendars fall out of sync with the solar year, and consequently with seasons. This is problematic for multiple reasons, not in the least because it makes it difficult to plan agricultural processes which are guided by seasonal changes in the weather.

This is why many cultures — including the Chinese, Buddhists, Burmese, Assyrians, Hebrews, Jains, Kurds, Nepalis, Hindus, Japanese, Koreans, Mongolians, Tibetans, and Vietnamese — have adopted lunisolar calendars, which weave in both solar and lunar cycles.

How does the Chinese calendar work?

Each day of the Chinese calendar begins at midnight, each of its 12 months starts on the day of a new moon, and the year commences with the second or third new moon following the winter solstice, the moment in the year when days begin to lengthen again. Months in the Chinese calendar alternate between 29 and 30 days.

Since 12 lunar months do not add up to a solar year, once roughly every three years, the Chinese calendar adds a 13th month known as rùn yuè which brings the calendar back in alignment with seasonal cycles.

The Chinese lunisolar calendar operates on a sexagenary (or 60-year) cycle. This is a product of the interplay of five key components: the Ten Heavenly Stems, the Twelve Earthly Branches, the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water), the alternating forces of Yin and Yang, and the twelve zodiac animals. Each year is designated by a unique combination of these elements, creating a repeating pattern that is at the centre of Chinese fortune-telling traditions.

How is the Chinese calendar linked to fortune-telling?

The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system is one of the oldest methods of timekeeping in Chinese history, originating as early as the Shang Dynasty (16th to 11th century BCE). Initially, these systems were used separately, with the 10 Heavenly Stems once representing a 10-day week before the modern lunar calendar took shape. Meanwhile, the 12 Earthly Branches correspond to the twelve Chinese zodiac animals.

In Ancient China, each year was named using a combination of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch, beginning with Jia-Zi and ending with Gui-Hai. This sequence, combined with the Five Elements and the alternating nature of Yin and Yang, shapes the interpretation of a given year’s fortune.

What does the Year of the Snake signify?

The Chinese have in 2025 welcomed the Year of the Snake, paired with the ‘wood’ element.

The snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac, symbolises wisdom, intuition, and transformation. People born in a Year of the Snake are often regarded as deep thinkers with an air of mystery. They are said to be calm and observant, preferring careful planning over impulsive action. This sign is also associated with elegance, sophistication, and a strategic mindset. However, their introspective nature can sometimes make them seem secretive or aloof.

Wood symbolises creativity, flexibility, and growth, making this a time for personal evolution and embracing change, much like a snake shedding its skin. The combination of snake and wood is thus believed to symbolise wisdom, growth, and transformation.

What are the mythical origins of the Chinese New Year?

The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend, the most famous being the tale of the mythical beast Nian. According to folklore, Nian would emerge on New Year’s Eve to terrorise villages, as it devouried crops, livestock, and sometimes people. A wise elder discovered that the creature feared loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. To ward off Nian, villagers set off firecrackers, wore red garments, and decorated their homes in red — traditions that persist today.

Another story credits the Chinese zodiac to the mythical Jade Emperor, who decided to measure time by assigning a year to each of 12 animals. In a legendary race across a river, the rat secured first place by cleverly riding atop the ox and leaping ahead at the last moment. The ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig followed in that order, shaping the zodiac cycle as we know it.

When does the Chinese New Year begin? How is it celebrated?

The date of the New Year celebrated today was fixed in the time of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). The first day of the first lunar month typically falls between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar.

The Chinese prepare for the New Year by thoroughly cleaning their houses to sweep away bad luck, and decorating with red and gold. However, sweeping is banned on the first day of the New Year, lest it sweep away good fortune.

Families gather for elaborate feasts which often carry symbolic meaning. For instance, fishes symbolise abundance while dumplings symbolise wealth. Superstitions play a crucial role — people avoid unlucky words, refrain from breaking objects, and wear red for good fortune. Red envelopes, or hóngbāo, filled with money are exchanged as tokens of prosperity. Firecrackers, lion dances, and ancestor worship complete the festive atmosphere.

The Chinese New Year today transcends the borders of China, and is celebrated by more than two billion people worldwide. Vietnam marks the occasion as Tết, while Korea observes Seollal with its own unique customs. Vibrant celebrations also take place in San Francisco, Melbourne, and Singapore.