Hey people, it’s not Lunar New Year. It’s Chinese New Year. Here is the science of it -
Lunar calendar follows only the phases of the moon. A year of 12 lunar months is about 11 days short of the solar year. This means a holiday based on a pure lunar calendar (like the Islamic Hijri) shifts drastically through the seasons, occurring about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
Chinese astronomers from thousands years ago tracked the moon phases for the months but adds a "leap month" roughly every three years to realign with the sun. This ensures that the new year always falls between Jan 21 - Feb 20 & remains tied to the seasons.
Chinese New Year is specifically defined by the solar term Li Chun 立春 (the beginning of Spring). If it were a "lunar" new year, it would eventually drift into summer.
The Chinese Zodiac animal is actually determined by the solar term called Yu Shui 雨水 (Rain Water) or the position of the sun, not purely by the lunar month. This is why the Chinese system is deeply lunisolar, not merely lunar.
The calendar and its new year is uniquely Chinese. So by being ‘political correct’ and call it Lunar New Year, you either show your ignorance, or you are aiding cultural erase.
Chinese New Year 🧧