lunar year
Featured
Puzzle #261 · February 17, 2026
A “lunar year” is a year based on 12 cycles of the moon. Lunar calendar years begin with a new moon and have a fixed number of lunar months, usually twelve.
As explained in this video, the Islamic calendar is purely a lunar calendar. Its lunar year is about 354 days. Because a lunar year is shorter than our classical solar year (365.25 days), lunar calendars get out of sync with the seasons.
Perhaps the best known lunar calendar is the Chinese calendar. It's actually a lunisolar calendar, which means the Chinese lunar year occasionally adds a 13th month to keep better synchronization with the seasons as solar calendars do.
Chinese New Year in 2026 is Tuesday, Feb 17th. It is the year of the Horse in the 12 animal Zodiac cycle, and the year of Fire in the 5 element cycle, making it the year of the Fire Horse. (赤馬年)
As explained in this video, the Islamic calendar is purely a lunar calendar. Its lunar year is about 354 days. Because a lunar year is shorter than our classical solar year (365.25 days), lunar calendars get out of sync with the seasons.
Perhaps the best known lunar calendar is the Chinese calendar. It's actually a lunisolar calendar, which means the Chinese lunar year occasionally adds a 13th month to keep better synchronization with the seasons as solar calendars do.
Chinese New Year in 2026 is Tuesday, Feb 17th. It is the year of the Horse in the 12 animal Zodiac cycle, and the year of Fire in the 5 element cycle, making it the year of the Fire Horse. (赤馬年)
Puzzle Appearances
The expression lunar year has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #261 on February 17, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Explore More Expressions
Everyday the Wordcels Puzzle has a featured expression showing meaning, history and connection to culture. Explore them all.
The Wordcels Puzzle
Think you've mastered Americanisms? The two-word phrases, compound words and idiomatic expressions of American English? Each day the Wordcels Puzzle provides 15 words that must be arranged to form 16 expressions. Give it a try.
