'Lunar New Year' may refer to the beginning of the year in several calendars. It is commonly assumed that they are all based on a
lunar calendar. However, this is not the case.
Several cultures' new year is based on the
Chinese calendar:
★
Chinese New Year
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Korean New Year
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Tết (Vietnamese New Year)
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Tsagaan Sar, Mongolian lunar New Year
Other cultures use entirely different methods to determine their new year:
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Islamic New Year — This may be the only major new year celebration that is based on a purely lunar calendar.
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Japanese New Year — The
Japanese used to have a lunisolar calendar similar to the
Chinese calendar. This changed on
January 1,
1873, when the
Gregorian Calendar was adopted for all aspects of life.
★
Rosh Hashanah — In the
Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah begins at
sundown on the 29th day of the month of
Elul.
★
Thai New Year (Songkran) — Although the traditional
Thai calendar is also lunisolar, Songkran is determined on a purely solar basis.