The Lunar Calendar
The lunar calendar originated from Xia Dynasty, so it's also called "Xia calendar". As it has the directive function to the agriculture since ancient times, people call it "the lunar calendar". The lunar calendar has a strong scientific and practical nature, which is why it could hand down until now. According to the whole year's nature days, the lunar calendar is divided into four seasons, 24 solar terms and festivals. The whole year's months are set up in the light of the period of the moon change. Measuring year by the month, a month virtually begins from the first day that crescent appears to the former day that the next crescent appears. Because there are about 355 days in a year of the lunar calendar, it needs to set up a leap month every three years, and seven leap months every nineteen years. The year, which has the leap month, is named the leap year. However, which month is the leap month all depends on the situation of the solar terms.
From the year 1912 when China adopted "公历"(gōng lì, the Gregorian calendar), people consider "公历"(the Gregorian calendar) as "阳历"(yáng lì, solar calendric system), and take "农历"(nōng lì, Chinese lunar calender) as "阴历"(yīng lì, the traditional Chinese calendar).
The 24 Solar Terms
The 24 Solar Terms is the cultural heritage created by Chinese laboring people. It can reflect the changes of the seasons, can direct the agriculture activities and also can influence the basic necessities of life in thousands of households. Owing to the 2000 years' history that the Chinese main politic centers are mainly centralized in the Yellow River Valley, the 24 Solar Terms are established on the basis of the climate and geography conditions as well. Because China is a country with a vast territory and has the changeful topography, so the 24 Solar Terms in many regions is for reference only.
二十四节气表 The 24 Solar Terms (According to the A.D.)
春季 (chūn jì) Spring
立春 (lì chūn) Spring begins (3rd-5th, Feb.)
雨水 (yú shuǐ) The rains (18th-20th, Feb.)
惊蛰 (jīng zhé) Insects awaken (5th-7th, Mar.)
春分 (chūn fēn) Vernal Equinox (20th-22nd, Mar.)
清明 (qīng míng) Clear and bright (4th-6th, Apr.)
谷雨 (gú yǔ) Grain rain (19th-21st, Apr.)
夏季 (xià jì) Summer
立夏 (lì xià) Summer begins (5th-7th, May.)
小满 (xiǎo mǎn) Grain buds (20th-22nd, May.)
芒种 (máng zhǒng) Grain in ear (5th-7th, Jun.)
夏至 (xià zhì) Summer solstice (21st-22nd, Jun.)
小暑 (xiǎo shǔ) Slight heat (6th-8th, Jul.)
大暑 (dà shǔ) Great heat (22nd-24th, Jul.)
秋季 (qiū jì) Autumn
立秋 (lì qiū) Autumn begins (7th-9th, Aug.)
处暑 (chú shǔ) Stopping the heat (22nd-24th, Aug.)
白露 (bái lù) White dews (7th-9th, Sep.)
秋分 (qiū fēn) Autumn Equinox (22nd-24th, Sep.)
寒露 (hán lù) Cold dews (8th-9th, Oct.)
霜降 (shuāng jiàng) Hoar-frost falls (23rd-24th, Oct.)
冬季 (dōng jì) Winter
立冬 (lì dōng) Winter begins (7th-8th, Nov.)
小雪 (xiǎo xuě) Light snow (22nd-23rd, Nov.)
大雪 (dà xuě) Heavy snow (6th-8th, Dec.)
冬至 (dōng zhì) Winter Solstice (21st-23rd, Dec.)
小寒 (xiǎo hán) Slight cold (5th-7th, Jan.)
大寒 (dà hán) Great cold (20th-21st, Jan.)
The Chinese traditional festivals related to the lunar calendar are the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-autumn Day etc.
春节 (chūn jié) the Spring Festival (the lunar New Year's Day)
元宵节 (yuán xiāo jié) the Lantern Festival (15th, the first month of the lunar year)
端午节 (duān wǔ jié) the Dragon Boat Festival (5th, the fifth month of the lunar year)
七夕、女儿节 (qī xī、nǚ ér jié) the Chinese Valentine's Day, the Daughter's Day (7th, the seventh month of the lunar year)
中秋节 (zhōng qiū jié) the Mid-autumn Day (15th, the eighth month of the lunar year)
重阳节 (chóng yáng jié) the Double Ninth Festival (9th, the ninth month of the lunar year)
腊八节、冬至节 (là bā jié、dōng zhì jié) the Laba Rice Porridge Festival, the Winter Solstice Festiva (8th, the twelfth month of the lunar year)
除夕 (chú xī) New Year's Eve (the lunar New Year's Eve)