China Calendar for Year 2008

China Internet Information Center

August 2008


Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat

					1 1st/7th mo.	2

3	4	5	6	7 Beginning of Autumn	8	9

10	11	12	13	14	15 15th/7th mo.	16

17	18	19	20	21	22	23 Limit of Heat

24	25	26	27	28	29	30

31 1st/8th mo.

Holidays and Observances:

1: Army Day (81st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People' s Liberation Army, 1/2 day off for those on active duty).

1: New Year Festival of Tujia ethnic minority. On the 1st day of the 7th lunar month, families prepare delicious food and invite their relatives and friends for a gathering.

7: Double Seventh Festival, a traditional festival of romance on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. Legend has it that the star-crossed Cowherd and the Weaving Girl meet on that evening every year in Heaven.

8: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games begin.

30: Shoton Festival, also the Tibetan Theater Festival, a seven-day religious celebration starting on the 30th day of the 6th month on the Tibetan calendar. "Shoton" is Tibetan for "yogurt banquet." Traditionally, on the 30th day the laity make offerings of yogurt to the monks. During the festival, theater troupes gather in Norbulingka (the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas) to give performances and hold competitions.

Nadam Fair, held during the 7th lunar month, is the grandest festival of the Mongolians. Activities include wrestling, horseracing and archery competitions, as well as trading of goods.

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