The Chinese lunar calendar is technically a lunisolar calendar. A lunisolar calendar makes use of the moon – lunar portion – and the sun – solar portion. The lunar calendar follows the phases of the moon.

Following the sun gives a more accurate prediction for when seasonal changes will occur. Farmers were especially needy of accurate changes of the seasons. They needed to know when to plant their crops early in the year and when to harvest them in the fall. The Chinese calendar contains 24 equally portioned sections throughout the lunar calendar that makes the entire calendar more balanced with the seasons.

There are 9 festivals found throughout the Chinese calendar. These festivals land on different days each year as per the West’s Gregorian calendar. A few are close to similar celebrations viewed by both the Chinese and the West.

For the Gregorian year 2010, the first day of the first month on the Chinese calendar is the Chinese New Year. This was on February 14. The Lantern festival is on the fifteenth day of the first month. This was February 28, 2010 on our calendars.

A few phases of the moon later, the “Clear and Bright” festival – or Qingming – is observed. April 5, 2010 was this year’s Qingming. The Dragon Boat festival – the Chinese love their Dragons – occurs just prior to our summer solstice. It falls in the 5th month on the 5th day. This year it was June 16.

The Chinese day for lovers – similar to our Valentine’s Day – falls on the seventh day of the seventh month. This is August 16 in 2010. A tribute to the deceased – the ghost or spirit festival – is the fifteenth day of the seventh month or August 24 this year.

At the time our fall usually appears, the Chinese have a family gathering and moon cake eating festival. This is in the eighth month and fifteenth day. This moon festival will appear on September 22 2010.

Two festivals fall on October 16 in 2010. They are found at different times in the fall. On the 9th day in the 9th month, is the Double Ninth festival. Xia Yuan is a prayer day for the Water God. It is held in month number 10, day 15.

The winter solstice is similar for East and West. This is when our sun is farthest south;and the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. December 22 is when families gather in 2010. The last celebration of the Chinese Lunar Calender is usually found in the first or second month of the Gregorian calendar. The 25th day in the 12th month – February 7, 2010 for us – saw the Kitchen God festival. It will land on January 27 in 2011.