lunisolar

Everyday

Based on both the Moon and the Sun. A lunisolar calendar uses months that follow the Moon and adds extra months now and then to keep in step with the seasons and the Sun. tree →

In the lessons

In science and history lessons you meet lunisolar calendars: the Chinese, Hebrew and Hindu calendars are lunisolar, which is why festivals like Chinese New Year or Passover fall on different days each year. It helps explain how months come from the Moon and years from the Sun.

Examples

• The Chinese calendar is lunisolar. tree →
• A lunisolar calendar adds an extra month now and then. tree →
• Chinese New Year moves because the calendar is lunisolar. tree →
• Our teacher explained lunar, solar and lunisolar calendars. tree →
• In a lunisolar year, the months follow the Moon. tree →
• Tides are lunisolar too: both the Moon and the Sun pull on the sea. tree →

Note

Made from «luni-» (Moon, Latin luna) + «solar» (Sun). Compare: lunar (Moon only), solar (Sun only). A Moon month is about 29 and a half days, so 12 Moon months are about 354 days — around 11 days short of a Sun year; the extra month fixes that.