When Does Chinese New Year Begin?

Legend says that the Chinese calendar was used for the first time by emperor Huang Di in 2637 BC. The calendar is lunisolar, based on astronomical observations.

Chinese date calculation determines Chinese New Year as the day of the second New Moon (rarely the third) after the winter solstice. In the Gregorian calendar that means Chinese New Year falls on different date every year in the period of January 21. – February 20.

For example here are dates of Chinese New Year 2009-2012

2009	2010	2011	2012
January 26	February 14	February 3	January 23