China Internet Information Center
March 2009

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3

4

5

Waking of Insects

6

7

8

9

10

11

15th/2nd mo.

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Vernal Equinox

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

1st/3rd mo

28

29

30

31

 

 

 

 

Holidays and Observances:

1: World Sea Dogs Day

3: National Ear Care Day, initiated in 2000 and observed annually in order for expanding ear care awareness and preventing deafness in China.

4: Blade Shaft Festival, a ceremony held on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month by southwest China's Lisu ethnic group group in honor of their hero, Wang Ji. Each clan gathers together to watch their young men display breathtaking courage and skill in such events as climbing blade ladders and running through fire.

5: China’s Youth Volunteer Day

8: International Women’s Day (1/2 day off for women).

12: Tree Planting Day.

14: World Police Day

15: Consumer Day.

21: World Forest Day; 21: World Sleep Day; 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On 21 March 1960, in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa, police opened fire and killed 69 people who were peacefully demonstrating against the apartheid "pass laws." Now, on this day, the UN General Assembly calls on the international community to work together to combat racism.

22: World Water Day, declared by the UN General Assembly, aims to raise awareness of issues related to the conservation and development of water resources.

23: World Meteorological Day.

24: World Tuberculosis Day.

Nawuruz, a festival of the Kazak people in northwest China’s Xinjiang region to greet spring, usually held shortly before or after the vernal equinox. Families gather together to enjoy a holiday meal of traditional foods.

Mountain Climbing Festival in spring, a chance for young Miao people in Guizhou Province to meet and greet each other. Young men and women climb mountains, sing and dance to get acquainted.

Notes:
1. In the traditional calendar, the new moon indicates the first day of a lunar month; the full moon marks the 15th day.
2. Dates in red are official holidays. To give workers longer holidays during the year, the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays. In 2009, there are six official work weekends respectively on January 4, January 24, February 1, May 31, September 27 and October 10.
3. The 24 Seasonal Division Points:
Order & Name of Seasonal Division Point Sun's Position at Ecliptic Gregorian Calendar Date
Spring 1.Beginning of Spring
2.Rain Water
3.Waking of Insects
4.Vernal Equinox
5.Pure Brightness
6.Grain Rain
315°
330°
345°

15°
30°
4 or 5 February
19 or 20 February
5 or 6 March
20 or 21 March
4 or 5 April
20 or 21 April
Summer 7.Beginning of Summer
8.Grain Budding
9.Grain in Ear
10.Summer Solstice
11.Slight Heat
12.Great Heat
45°
60°
75°
90°
105°
120°
5 or 6 May
21 or 22 May
5 or 6 June
21 or 22 June
7 or 8 July
22 or 23 July
Autumn 13.Beginning of Autumn
14.Limit of Heat
15.White Dew
16.Autumnal Equinox
17.Cold Dew
18.Frost's Descent
135°
150°
165°
180°
195°
210°
7 or 8 August
23 or 24 August
7 or 8 September
22 or 23 September
8 or 9 October
23 or 24 October
Winter 19.Beginning of Winter
20.Slight Snow
21.Great Snow
22.Winter Solstice
23.Slight Cold
24.Great Cold
225°
240°
255°
270°
285°
300°
7 or 8 November
22 or 23 November
7 or 8 December
21 or 22 December
5 or 6 January
20 or 21 January
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