# 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.

Canonical page: https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/year/2012

## Festivals

| Festival | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) | 2012-01-23 |
| Lantern Festival | 2012-02-06 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | 2012-06-23 |
| Qixi Festival | 2012-08-23 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | 2012-09-30 |
| Double Ninth Festival | 2012-10-23 |

## Lunar Months

| Month | Starts | Days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Month | 2012-01-23 | 30 |
| Second Month | 2012-02-22 | 29 |
| Third Month | 2012-03-22 | 30 |
| Fourth Month | 2012-04-21 | 30 |
| Leap Fourth Month | 2012-05-21 | 29 |
| Fifth Month | 2012-06-19 | 30 |
| Sixth Month | 2012-07-19 | 29 |
| Seventh Month | 2012-08-17 | 30 |
| Eighth Month | 2012-09-16 | 29 |
| Ninth Month | 2012-10-15 | 30 |
| Tenth Month | 2012-11-14 | 29 |
| Eleventh Month | 2012-12-13 | 30 |
| Twelfth Month | 2013-01-12 | 29 |

## Solar Terms 2012

| Term | Begins (UTC) | Day in Beijing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minor Cold (Xiaohan, 小寒) | 2012-01-05 22:44 | 2012-01-06 |
| Major Cold (Dahan, 大寒) | 2012-01-20 16:09 | 2012-01-21 |
| Start of Spring (Lichun, 立春) | 2012-02-04 10:22 | 2012-02-04 |
| Rain Water (Yushui, 雨水) | 2012-02-19 06:17 | 2012-02-19 |
| Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe, 惊蛰) | 2012-03-05 04:20 | 2012-03-05 |
| Spring Equinox (Chunfen, 春分) | 2012-03-20 05:14 | 2012-03-20 |
| Clear and Bright (Qingming, 清明) | 2012-04-04 09:05 | 2012-04-04 |
| Grain Rain (Guyu, 谷雨) | 2012-04-19 16:12 | 2012-04-20 |
| Start of Summer (Lixia, 立夏) | 2012-05-05 02:19 | 2012-05-05 |
| Grain Buds (Xiaoman, 小满) | 2012-05-20 15:15 | 2012-05-20 |
| Grain in Ear (Mangzhong, 芒种) | 2012-06-05 06:25 | 2012-06-05 |
| Summer Solstice (Xiazhi, 夏至) | 2012-06-20 23:08 | 2012-06-21 |
| Minor Heat (Xiaoshu, 小暑) | 2012-07-06 16:40 | 2012-07-07 |
| Major Heat (Dashu, 大暑) | 2012-07-22 10:00 | 2012-07-22 |
| Start of Autumn (Liqiu, 立秋) | 2012-08-07 02:30 | 2012-08-07 |
| End of Heat (Chushu, 处暑) | 2012-08-22 17:06 | 2012-08-23 |
| White Dew (Bailu, 白露) | 2012-09-07 05:28 | 2012-09-07 |
| Autumn Equinox (Qiufen, 秋分) | 2012-09-22 14:48 | 2012-09-22 |
| Cold Dew (Hanlu, 寒露) | 2012-10-07 21:11 | 2012-10-08 |
| Frost's Descent (Shuangjiang, 霜降) | 2012-10-23 00:13 | 2012-10-23 |
| Start of Winter (Lidong, 立冬) | 2012-11-07 00:25 | 2012-11-07 |
| Minor Snow (Xiaoxue, 小雪) | 2012-11-21 21:49 | 2012-11-22 |
| Major Snow (Daxue, 大雪) | 2012-12-06 17:18 | 2012-12-07 |
| Winter Solstice (Dongzhi, 冬至) | 2012-12-21 11:11 | 2012-12-21 |

## Questions

### 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.

## Method

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.

Source: [Selfgazer](https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/year/2012). Free to cite with a link to the source page.