Chinese Calendar
Chinese New Year 2012
The Year of the Water Dragon (壬辰, Ren Chen).
Quick Answer
Chinese New Year 2012 is on January 23, 2012, beginning the Year of the Water Dragon (壬辰, Ren Chen), which lasts until February 9, 2013. Until then it is still the Year of the Metal Rabbit. In BaZi, which counts years from the solar term Start of Spring (Li Chun), the 2012 year begins on February 4, 2012 at 6:22 PM Beijing time (10:22 UTC). This lunar year has 13 months, including a leap fourth month.
Festivals 2012
Traditional festivals fixed to lunar dates.
| Festival | Date |
|---|---|
| Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) | |
| Lantern Festival | |
| Dragon Boat Festival | |
| Qixi Festival | |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | |
| Double Ninth Festival |
Tai Sui 2012
In the Year of the Water Dragon, the signs traditionally said to be in conflict with Tai Sui, the year's ruling deity, are Dragon (birth year and punishment), Dog (clash), Rabbit (harm) and Ox (break).
Lunar Months of the Water Dragon Year
This year has 13 months, including a leap fourth month.
| Month | Starts | Length |
|---|---|---|
| First Month | 30 days | |
| Second Month | 29 days | |
| Third Month | 30 days | |
| Fourth Month | 30 days | |
| Leap Fourth Month | 29 days | |
| Fifth Month | 30 days | |
| Sixth Month | 29 days | |
| Seventh Month | 30 days | |
| Eighth Month | 29 days | |
| Ninth Month | 30 days | |
| Tenth Month | 29 days | |
| Eleventh Month | 30 days | |
| Twelfth Month | 29 days |
The 24 Solar Terms of 2012
Start of Spring (Li Chun) opens the BaZi year; each term in bold opens a BaZi month.
| Solar Term | Begins | Sun Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold Xiaohan, 小寒 | 285° | |
| Major Cold Dahan, 大寒 | 300° | |
| Start of Spring Lichun, 立春 | 315° | |
| Rain Water Yushui, 雨水 | 330° | |
| Awakening of Insects Jingzhe, 惊蛰 | 345° | |
| Spring Equinox Chunfen, 春分 | 0° | |
| Clear and Bright Qingming, 清明 | 15° | |
| Grain Rain Guyu, 谷雨 | 30° | |
| Start of Summer Lixia, 立夏 | 45° | |
| Grain Buds Xiaoman, 小满 | 60° | |
| Grain in Ear Mangzhong, 芒种 | 75° | |
| Summer Solstice Xiazhi, 夏至 | 90° | |
| Minor Heat Xiaoshu, 小暑 | 105° | |
| Major Heat Dashu, 大暑 | 120° | |
| Start of Autumn Liqiu, 立秋 | 135° | |
| End of Heat Chushu, 处暑 | 150° | |
| White Dew Bailu, 白露 | 165° | |
| Autumn Equinox Qiufen, 秋分 | 180° | |
| Cold Dew Hanlu, 寒露 | 195° | |
| Frost's Descent Shuangjiang, 霜降 | 210° | |
| Start of Winter Lidong, 立冬 | 225° | |
| Minor Snow Xiaoxue, 小雪 | 240° | |
| Major Snow Daxue, 大雪 | 255° | |
| Winter Solstice Dongzhi, 冬至 | 270° |
Explore the Zodiac
Questions About 2012
When Is Chinese New Year 2012?
Chinese New Year 2012 is on January 23, 2012, beginning the Year of the Water Dragon (壬辰, Ren Chen), which lasts until February 9, 2013. Until then it is still the Year of the Metal Rabbit. In BaZi, which counts years from the solar term Start of Spring (Li Chun), the 2012 year begins on February 4, 2012 at 6:22 PM Beijing time (10:22 UTC). This lunar year has 13 months, including a leap fourth month.
What Chinese Zodiac Animal Is 2012?
2012 is mostly the Year of the Water Dragon (壬辰), from January 23, 2012. Dates before then belong to the Year of the Metal Rabbit.
Which Signs Offend Tai Sui in 2012?
In the Year of the Water Dragon, the signs traditionally said to be in conflict with Tai Sui, the year's ruling deity, are Dragon (birth year and punishment), Dog (clash), Rabbit (harm) and Ox (break).
Does the 2012 Lunar Year Have a Leap Month?
Yes. The lunar year beginning in 2012 has 13 months, including a leap fourth month.
When Is the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2012?
The Mid-Autumn Festival, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, falls on September 30, 2012.
Why Do Some Calendars Give a Different Date?
Dates are computed astronomically, following the rules of the modern Chinese calendar (GB/T 33661-2017): days in China Standard Time (UTC+8), months starting on the day of the new moon, the winter solstice always in the eleventh month, and leap months placed in the first month without a principal solar term. Solar terms are the moments the Sun reaches each 15 degree point of its path, computed with the Astronomy Engine library. Years before 1929 used Beijing local time, so a handful of historical dates can differ by one day from older almanacs.
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