Lunar New Year is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, and the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve is the last day of the Lunar New Year and an important time for family reunion and celebration. However, starting from 2025, there will be no Chinese New Year's Eve for five consecutive years, which has caused concern and curiosity. So why is there a situation where there is no Chinese New Year's Eve for five consecutive years?
The Chinese lunar calendar is divided according to the waxing and waning of the moon, and the length of a month is determined according to the cycle of the moon. This cycle is known as the "synodic month" and has an average length of 2953 days. Since the synodic month is not a whole number, a lunar month is sometimes a 29-day "small month" and sometimes a 30-day "big month".
According to the lunar calendar, the first day of each month is determined based on the day on which the moon phase "Shuo" occurs. Therefore, the number of days between two consecutive "new moons" is the length of a month. Since the length of the synodic month is not an integer, the number of days in each month is not fixed.
Chinese New Year's Eve does not come every year. In some years, adjusting the number of days in the month or inserting a leap month has shortened a month to 29 days, making the original Chinese New Year's Eve become the 29th year of the Great Year. This will happen for five consecutive years from 2025 to 2029, so there is no Chinese New Year's Eve for five consecutive years.
The absence of the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve for five consecutive years will have a certain impact on traditional customs, because in many places, the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve has a special meaning and celebration. However, it also reminds us that the uniqueness of the lunar calendar, as an ancient calendar, is not only reflected in its irregularity, but also in its close connection with the movement of celestial bodies in nature, reflecting the wisdom of the ancients in their perception of time.
While the absence of Chinese New Year's Eve for five years in a row may be regrettable for some, it is also a reminder that the way traditional festivals are celebrated can change, while the family reunions and traditional cultural heritage behind them will never change. Whether it is the 29th or 30th of the lunar month, Chinese New Year's Eve, as a traditional festival, is an important time for families to reunite and wish each other well.
The absence of the Chinese New Year's Eve for five consecutive years from next year is due to the characteristics of the lunar calendar and the relationship between the phases of the moon. The lunar calendar divides the time according to the waxing and waning of the moon, while the length of the synodic month is not an integer, resulting in an irregular number of days in each month. As a result, a month is sometimes shortened to 29 days, making the original Chinese New Year's Eve become the 29th of the Great Year. This will happen for five consecutive years from 2025 to 2029.