Which calendar sets the traditional date of Chinese New Year?

The Chinese calendar sets the traditional date of Chinese New Year. More precisely, it is a lunisolar calendar: months follow the Moon, while solar observations keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.

Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first month. In most years, that date falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, placing the festival between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar. A leap month can occasionally alter the pattern.

Modern China officially uses the Gregorian calendar for civil administration, but the traditional Chinese calendar still determines festivals such as Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. It also preserves the cycle of twelve zodiac animals and helps select auspicious dates for ceremonies.

A common mix-up is calling the system purely lunar. “Lunar New Year” is common English usage, but the Chinese calendar is technically lunisolar, not simply lunar.