Unlike the west, Chinese traditional holidays follows a unique lunar-solar
system.
The beginnings of the Chinese calendar can be traced back to the 14th
century B.C.E. Legend has it that the Emperor Huangdi invented the
calendar in 2637 B.C.E. The Chinese calendar is based on exact
astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of
the moon. This means that principles of modern science have had an
impact on the Chinese calendar. For more information and details on the
historical development and evolution of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, visit
http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-chinese.html. To convert dates
from the lunar calendar to that in the corresponding solar system and vice
versa, visit http://www.cnd.org/Other/calendar.html
In Southeast Asia, the Chinese communities still celebrate the main Chinese
traditional festivals, and in some countries, the major ones such as Chinese
New Year are even declared public holidays.
This series will profile the traditional Chinese festivals celebrated throughout
Southeast Asia. As far as possible, we will highlight differences in how
individual Chinese communities within Southeast Asia celebrate these festivals.
If you are a Chinese from Southeast Asia who have experiences of traditional
festivals to share, do write to psalm@singnet.com.sg