Li Chun (立春) 4th February

Based on the movement of the sun, for farming purposes, the ancient Chinese divided a year into 24 solar seasons (節氣).

Most people may not know all the 24 solar seasons but I am sure most of the Chinese know at least two of them, namely 'Ching Ming' (清明) on 4th April and 'Winter Solstice' (冬至) on 22nd December.

Another interesting solar season for the Chinese in Hong Kong is on 5th March,  'Awakening of Insects' (惊蛰).  

It is a day when one can carry out an ancient Chinese ritual of 'Da Siu Yan' (打小人) or 'beating the petty little people' with your shoe so that you will meet only good people for that year.  

Li Chun (立春) 4th February

According to some 'Feng Shui Sifu', Li Chun marks the starting of 2016 'Monkey' year. But for the traditional Chinese that follow the Lunar Calendar, 2016 'Monkey' year is from 8th February 2016 (年初一) to 27th January 2017. The 'Rooster' will takeover on 28th January 2017.

Based on Lunar Calendar, since this 2016 Monkey year will start on 8th February 2016, which is 4 days after 'Li Chun' and it will end on 27th January 2017, which is 5 days before the next 'Li Chun' that is on 4th February 2017, there is no 'Li Chun' for this Monkey year. A Lunar year without 'Li Chun' is called a 'Blind Year'. Some believed that 'Blind Year' is not auspicious for getting married.

For the next 'Rooster' year from 28th January 2017 to 16th February 2018, there will be two 'Li Chun', which is made possible because the 2017 'Rooster' year has 13 months. There will be two '6th month' in 2017. This 13 month a year pushes the Chinese New Year from January back to February again.

The ancient Chinese noticed that the Lunar year was shorter than the Solar year by 10 days a year, by having 13 months once every 3 year, the 24 solar seasons can be kept quite accurately for farming activities. 

The Muslim lunar calendar does not have this 'once every 3 years 13-month adjustment', their 'Hari Raya Puasa' will continue to move forward by 10 days every year. And one day in about 22 years time we will celebrate Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa together again.

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