Why we call the 1st Jan of each year as 元旦（Yuan dan）?

In China, the 1st of January is called "元旦 (Yuan dan)", which has a profound cultural origin. 🌟

The term "元旦" first appeared in "The Book of Jin". In ancient times, "元" signified the beginning or the first, and "旦" represented the sun rising above the horizon, symbolizing the start of a new day. Thus, "元旦" was used to denote the initial day of a new year. 🌅

The ancient Chinese calendar was complex, and different dynasties had varying definitions for the date of "元旦". For instance, in the Xia Dynasty, the first month of spring was regarded as "元旦"; in the Shang Dynasty, it was the twelfth month; in the Zhou Dynasty, it was the eleventh month; and after the unification by Qin Shi Huang, the tenth month was set as "元旦". It was not until the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that the first month of spring was redefined as "元旦", and this practice was followed by subsequent dynasties. This first day of the first month of spring is what we now refer to as the Spring Festival. 📅

After the Revolution of 1912, the Republican government decided to adopt the Gregorian calendar for the convenience of statistics and international communication. Initially, January 1st of the Gregorian calendar was recognized as the New Year, although it was not officially named "元旦" at that time. 📆

Finally, on September 27, 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference decided to formally designate January 1st of the Gregorian calendar as "元旦", while the first day of the first lunar month was named "Spring Festival". This established the modern distinction between the two festivals, with "元旦" becoming the beginning of the new Gregorian year. 🎉

Throughout history, poets have also left behind many verses related to the New Year. For example, Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty wrote in "New Year's Day": "Amid the sound of firecrackers, the old year has passed; in the warm breeze of spring, the new year arrives. The sun rises on every household, and the new peachwood charm replaces the old one." This poem vividly depicts the festive and hopeful atmosphere of the New Year, as well as the traditional customs and cultural connotations associated with it. 🔥🎊

In conclusion, the naming and celebration of "元旦" in China not only reflect the evolution of the calendar system but also embody the rich cultural heritage and the spirit of renewal and hope at the start of each new year. 🌈

#ChineseCulture #NewYearTradition