2008 Lunar Festivals

China developed and used their lunisolar calendar to determine planting and harvesting times, and festival occasions. Although the western (Gregorian) calendar is used in China everyday, the lunar calendar is still important - especially for traditional holidays.

Chinese New Year (including the Lantern Festival on day 15), Mid-Autumn Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival are the most important and widely celebrated Chinese holidays. However there are quite a few other holidays celebrated by their lunar dates.

The 25th year of this cycle began:
February 7, 2008 - Chinese New Year - lunar 1/1, Year of the Rat, 4706

Remaining big dates in 2008:

Winter Solstice "Dong Zhi" Falls on December 20-22. Probably December 21st in 2008.

When "off the shelf" isn't working:

Learn from the people
Plan with the people
Begin with what they have
Build on what they know
Of the best leaders
When the task is accomplished
The people all remark
We have done it ourselves.

- Lao-tzu