China Calendar for Year 2009

China Internet Information Center

December 2009

Holidays and Observances:

1: World AIDS Day. The United Nations, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has declared 1 December World AIDS Day.

3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992, aims to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilize support for practical action at all levels, by, with and for persons with disabilities.

5: International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.

9: World Football Day

10: Human Rights Day. All member states and interested organizations were invited by the UN General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10th December as Human Rights Day. The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

12: Commemoration Day of Xi’an Incident.

13: Commemoration Day of Nanjing Massacre.

18: International Migrant's Day In 1997, Filipino and Asian migrant organizations began celebrating the 18th of December as the International Day of Solidarity with Migrants because it was on 18 December 1990 that the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants Workers and Members of Their Families(the convention came into force on 1 July 2003 binding to all governments that have ratified it). In 2000 the UN General Assembly designated the date of each year as International Migrant's Day.

20: Anniversary of Macao Special Administrative Region

22: Winter Solstice, the earliest of the 24 seasonal division points falling on December 21 or 22 on the Gregorian calendar. In ancient China, it was believed that as the days grow longer, young, positive things become stronger and stronger. Chinese families usually celebrate it by eating dumplings or eating a dish made of red beans and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. 21: World Basketball Day

25: Christmas Day.

26: Birthday of Mao Zedong.

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