One of the things I love is how the Chinese view the calendar year. They have historically based their calendar on the cycle of the moon (28 days) rather than the sun (365 days). This makes for some interesting differences between how we see the year and how they see the year.

For instance, did you know that the Chinese view the year as having 5 seasons rather than 4? That’s right; there is an extra 5th season squeezed in between summer and autumn called “late summer”. This is my favorite season of the year because of how everything is ripening and fattening in the garden and the days are hazy and lazy. Its a great time to just sit on the porch and soak in the beautiful weather.

The other interesting thing about how the Chinese view their calendar is that the beginnings of the seasons are shifted just a bit. For example, when December 22nd rolls around (or whatever day the Winter Solstice is), we mark that as the first day of winter. But what the Chinese do is view that as the very middle of winter. The bottom of the trough. From then on, the days are getting longer and we are beginning our climb towards longer days and the warmth of spring.

That is why when everyone else is grumbling about winter coming, I have a cheerier outlook; that we are now finally starting to climb out of the deepest, darkest days of winter and starting our climb back up. for me, I see it as an optimistic thing.

On the flip side, I’m a bit sad on the first day of summer, because I know that the days are starting to get shorter as we slide towards the cold of winter.

Another thing I like is that they recognize 24 distinct mini-seasons. Some of them have rather poetic names and they seem to capture the “feel” of that time of the year. Here is the list of the 24 seasons of the year. The dates are “ball park” because they shift from year to year just a bit. Sort of like how the Winter Solstice is sometimes on the 22nd and sometimes on the 23rd and other years on the 21st, etc.

Oh and remember, their Chinese New Year begins usually around the first week of February.

1. Coming of Spring (Feb 1st- Feb 18th)

2. Rain Water (Feb 19-March 5th)

3. Awakening of the Worms (March 6th-March 20th)

4. Spring Equinox (March 21-April 4th)

5. Clear & Bright (April 5th-April 20th)

6. Grain Rain (April 21st- May 5th)

7. Coming of Spring ( May 6th-May 20th)

8. Small Sprout (May 21st-June 5th)

9. Planting of Thorny Crops (June 6th- June 21st)

10. Summer Solstice (June 22nd- July 6th)

11. Lesser Heat (July 7th-July 22nd)

12. Greater Heat (July 23rd-August 7th)

13. Coming of Autumn (August 8th-August 23rd)

14. Heats End (August 24th-Sept 7th)

15.White Dew (Sept 8th- Sept 22nd)

16. Autumn Equinox (Sept 23rd- October 7th)

17. Cold Dew (October 8th- October 23rd)

18. Frosting (October 24th- November 6th)

19. Coming of Winter (November 7th- November 22nd)

20. Lesser Snow (November 23rd- December 6th)

21. Greater Snow (December 7th- December 21st)

22. Winter Solstice (December 22nd- January 5th)

23. Lesser Cold (January 6th-January 20th)

24. Greater Cold (January 21st-February 3rd)

And that’s it. Hope you found that just as interesting as I did the first time I heard about it. Have a great season and “Happy Cold Dew”. And next week you can wish me a “Happy Frosting” when you see me. I’ll know what you mean. 😉

Jason…