Chinese Culture: Origin of “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day”
Origin of “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” Key Learning Point (Preview): 元旦 (Yuándàn) n. New Year’s Day
“元旦(Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” has a three thousand-year history in China. In ancient times, “元旦 (Yuándàn)” was the “农历 (nónglì) lunar calendar” new year—today’s “春节 (Chūnjié) Spring Festival.” Since the founding of the new China, with the aim of distinguishing the “农历 (nónglì) lunar calendar” and the “阳历 (yánglì) Gregorian calendar,” the lunar new year was renamed as “春节 (Chūnjié) Spring Festival” and Gregorian January 1 was named “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day.”…