# What is the Chinese New Year?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/48088>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 2, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/48088 "2001-01-02T15:04:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/48088/1 "2001-01-02T15:04:44Z")

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OK, it’s January 24, this year, but what is the start of the Chinese New Year determined?

It doesn’t appear to have much relation to the vernal equinox or the winter solstice, how is it divined?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/48088/2 "2001-01-02T15:19:10Z")

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Well, shoot. All the “Chinese New Year” Google hit websites I’ve looked at in the last 5 minutes have merely addressed the issue of “finding out what Chinese year your Western birthday corresponds to”. All the “Chinese lunar calendar” Google hit websites I’ve looked at have had to do with predicting or choosing the sex of your child. Um.

Hopefully some old China hand will be along in a moment…

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**Author:** ![Fillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2acd7d/32.png) [@Fillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fillet)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-chinese-new-year/48088/3 "2001-01-02T16:14:00Z")

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The Chinese New Year is meant to mark the beginning of spring.

[This website](http://www.indiana.edu/~chasso/newyear.html) has more information on the Chinese calendar, as well as on legends and traditions surrounding the celebration.