Why is Qingming Festival on the Gregorian calendar? Its other identity tells you the answer

Why is Qingming Festival on the Gregorian calendar? Qingming Festival is one of China's traditional festivals, but the time of Qingming Festival is calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. Next, let’s take a closer look at it.

Why is Qingming Festival on the Gregorian calendar?

Qingming Festival is coming soon. We all know that Qingming Festival is one of China's traditional festivals, and China's traditional festivals are generally calculated according to the lunar calendar. However, Qingming Festival is calculated according to the Gregorian calendar, because Qingming Festival is not only a traditional festival, but also one of the 24 solar terms, and the 24 solar terms themselves are calculated according to the Gregorian calendar. Qingming is a moment in the astronomical calendar. When the sun reaches 15° of the ecliptic longitude, it falls on April 5 or 6 of the Gregorian calendar every year. In addition, the dates of the solar terms are relatively fixed in the Gregorian calendar. If calculated according to the lunar calendar, the dates of the solar terms are difficult to determine, which will affect the overall time.

What are the 24 solar terms?

meaning

The 24 solar terms refer to a supplementary calendar established in ancient China to guide agricultural activities. It is the crystallization of the long-term experience and wisdom of the ancient Chinese working people.

origin

The supplementary calendar used to guide agricultural activities, which was first established in the pre-Qin period in China and fully established in the Han Dynasty, is a knowledge system formed by observing the annual movement of the sun and recognizing the changing patterns of seasons, climate, and phenology throughout the year.

Division

The 24 solar terms divide the annual movement of the sun into 24 equal parts, starting from the Beginning of Spring and ending with the Great Cold, repeating over and over again. It is not only a time standard promulgated by governments of all dynasties, but also a compass guiding agricultural production.

name

The 24 solar terms include: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Vernal Equinox, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, Greater Heat, Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent, Beginning of Winter, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Lesser Cold and Greater Cold.