Lichun is the solar term known as the “Start of Spring,” and it falls around the period when Chinese New Year is celebrated. Its name combines li, meaning “to establish” or “begin,” with chun, meaning “spring.”
Lichun is the first of the 24 solar terms used in traditional East Asian calendars. Astronomically, it begins when the Sun reaches 315 degrees of celestial longitude, usually around February 3, 4 or 5 in the Gregorian calendar, depending on the year and time zone. It generally lasts until the Sun reaches 330 degrees.
Lichun and Chinese New Year are related but not identical. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first month of the lunisolar calendar, so it can fall before or after Lichun. Dongzhi is the Winter Solstice, Qingming is a later spring solar term, and Dahan means “Great Cold,” making none of them the Start of Spring.