China Internet Information Center
May 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
        1 2 3
4 5
Beginning of Summer		 6
2nd/4th mo.		 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19
15th/4th mo.		 20 21
Grain Budding		 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Holidays and Observances:
1: International Labor Day (1 day off).
4: Chinese Youth Day.
8: World Red Cross Day.
11: Mother's Day, observed on the second Sunday in May.
12: International Nurses Day.
12: Yanu's Day. On the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, the Miao people of south and central China commemorate their hero, Yanu. Major activities include dancing to drum and lusheng (a type of mouth organ), climbing blade ladders and eating glutinous rice.
15: International Day for Families.
17: World Telecommunication Day.
18: International Museum Day.
18: National Day for Persons with Disabilities, observed on the third Sunday in May.
20: National Nutrition Day for Students.
30: Sheep and Horse Festival, celebrated by Miao people with grand gatherings on the days of sheep or horse around the 26th day of the 4th lunar month. Legend has it that during a war at the end of Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Miao people used sheep and horses to mislead the enemy and finally won victory. The festival is held to show their reverence for these animals.
31: World No-Tobacco Day.
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 two week-long holidays during the year, the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays. In 2008, there are two official work weekends respectively in February and September, and one working Sunday in early May.
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°
0°
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
Traditional Chinese Festivals
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