China Calendar for Year 2009

China Internet Information Center

September 2009

Holidays and Observances:

8: International Literacy Day, focuses attention on worldwide literacy issues and needs. It is estimated that 860 million of the world's adults do not know how to read or write (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) and that more than 100 million children lack access to education. International Literacy Day coincides with the beginning of a new school year in many countries; classroom teachers use this special day to recognize the importance of literacy in the lives of children and adults.

10: Teacher's Day. It is celebrated annually in China as a special day for the appreciation of teachers.

16: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorates the day in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed -- September 16. Recent research by NASA shows that the overall rate of stratospheric ozone depletion is slowing, indicating the possibility of the recovery of the ozone layer. It is anticipated that without the Montreal Protocol, by the year 2050 ozone depletion would be about 10 times worse than current levels.

20: National Tooth-care Day.

20: Shoton Festival, also the Tibetan Theater Festival, a seven-day religious celebration starting on the 30th day of the 6th month on the Tibetan calendar. "Shoton" is Tibetan for "yogurt banquet." Traditionally, on the 30th day the laity make offerings of yogurt to the monks. During the festival, theater troupes gather in Norbulingka (the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas) to give performances and hold competitions.

21: International Day of Peace. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution 55/282 declaring September 21 of each year as the International Day of Peace. The resolution calls on all nations to observe a day of global cease-fire and non-violence and invites all people everywhere in the world to honor a cessation of hostilities throughout the day. The UN has invited its member states, United Nations bodies, regional and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the day and to cooperate with the United Nations in establishing the global cease-fire.

27: World Tourism Day.

28: World Deaf Day, observed annually on the fourth Sunday in September.

28: Confucius' Birthday.

28: China.org.cn adds its French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Esperanto, and traditional Chinese sites.

Notes:

1. In the traditional calendar, the new moon indicates the first day of a lunar month; the full moon marks the 15th day.

2. Dates in red are official holidays. To give workers longer holidays during the year, the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays. In 2009, there are six official work weekends respectively on January 4, January 24, February 1, May 31, September 27 and October 10.

3. The 24 Seasonal Division Points:

	Order & Name of Seasonal Division Point	Sun's Position at Ecliptic	Gregorian Calendar Date
Spring	1.Beginning of Spring 2.Rain Water 3.Waking of Insects 4.Vernal Equinox 5.Pure Brightness 6.Grain Rain	315° 330° 345° 0° 15° 30°	4 or 5 February 19 or 20 February 5 or 6 March 20 or 21 March 4 or 5 April 20 or 21 April
Summer	7.Beginning of Summer 8.Grain Budding 9.Grain in Ear 10.Summer Solstice 11.Slight Heat 12.Great Heat	45° 60° 75° 90° 105° 120°	5 or 6 May 21 or 22 May 5 or 6 June 21 or 22 June 7 or 8 July 22 or 23 July
Autumn	13.Beginning of Autumn 14.Limit of Heat 15.White Dew 16.Autumnal Equinox 17.Cold Dew 18.Frost's Descent	135° 150° 165° 180° 195° 210°	7 or 8 August 23 or 24 August 7 or 8 September 22 or 23 September 8 or 9 October 23 or 24 October
Winter	19.Beginning of Winter 20.Slight Snow 21.Great Snow 22.Winter Solstice 23.Slight Cold 24.Great Cold	225° 240° 255° 270° 285° 300°	7 or 8 November 22 or 23 November 7 or 8 December 21 or 22 December 5 or 6 January 20 or 21 January