Li Chun (立春), 2019

This year, I made good my resolve to buy a new copy of Joey Yap's book, The Ten Thousand Year Calendar, to replace the one that was practically falling apart at the seams. However, I was unable to find a similar copy.

All I found was a new edition of the book which was physically a smaller size. But it's just as good. All the information is still there.

For instance, the annual observance of the festival of Li Chun (立春) or Jip Chun as more called by the Penang Baba Nyonya community, which heralds the start of the new year according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, can still be easily ascertained.

So when will be Li Chun in 2019? According to the book, this will fall on 4 Feb 2019 at 11.41pm. That's pretty close to midnight. And, according to Chinese custom, anything after 11 o'clock at night is already considered as the next day. Thus, even though Li Chun technically falls on the fourth of February, in Chinese terms it is already the next day.

But 5 Feb 2019 is also Chinese New Year. Thus, we have the unique and happy occasion when Li Chun and Chinese New Year will coincide in 2019!

You bet that I'm going to be doubly busy come next fourth of February evening, what with the family reunion, making preparations to greet in the Chinese New Year and also having to keep an eye on the clock in order to paste a new Chun (春) character on the rice bucket after 11.41pm!

Happy New Year!

I've been writing about Li Chun in this blog since Year 2007 and you can still read them here:
Li Chun, 2018
Li Chun, 2017
Li Chun, 2016
Li Chun, 2015
Li Chun, 2014
Li Chun, 2013
Li Chun, 2012
Li Chun, 2011
Li Chun, 2010
Li Chun, 2009
Li Chun, 2008
Li Chun, 2007