2017 was a special year, not only because it was a double-spring year, but also because it had a leap sixth month. So, what exactly is a leap sixth month? Does it mean that there are two June months in a year? This article will reveal the mystery of the leap sixth month and help you understand this unique lunar phenomenon.
The Meaning of the Leap Sixth Month
The term "leap sixth month" refers to the occurrence of two sixth months in the lunar calendar. 2017's lunar year of the Rooster was a leap year, starting on January 28, 2017, and ending on February 15, 2018, totaling 384 days. The first lunar sixth month of that year was from June 24 to July 22, and the second lunar sixth month was from July 23 to August 21. The presence of the leap sixth month made the lunar year of 2017 29 days longer than the previous year, the Year of the Monkey, extending to 384 days. The existence of the leap sixth month resulted in the Rooster year having six small months (each with 29 days) and seven large months (each with 30 days).
The Auspiciousness of Getting Married in the Leap Sixth Month
In traditional Chinese beliefs, the leap month is considered an auspicious month, symbolizing love and marital harmony. As a double month, the leap sixth month is especially regarded as a good time for marriage. The word "leap" in "leap month" conveys meanings of nourishment and harvest, implying that the couple can be loving and harmonious, enjoying a happy and fulfilling life. Therefore, choosing to get married in the leap sixth month is considered a lucky choice.
The Fate of Babies Born in the Leap Sixth Month
Babies born in the leap sixth month of 2017 were considered lucky. Since the leap month fell in June, babies born during this time might face relatively hot weather, but this does not negatively affect their fate. In the lunar calendar, June is called the "Wei" month. The "Wei" earth gives birth to the "You" metal, and babies born in this month have no conflicting or clashing relationships with their parents, instead, they can bring prosperity to their parents. Therefore, babies born in the leap sixth month are believed to be blessed.
Difference Between a Leap Year and a Leap Month
A leap year and a leap month are two different concepts. A leap year is a term in the Gregorian calendar, which stipulates that there are 97 leap years every 400 years. Years that are not divisible by 100 but are divisible by 4 are considered leap years, with February having 29 days, while other years have 28 days in February. On the other hand, a leap month is a term in the lunar calendar. Because the lunar calendar is a lunisolar calendar, it needs to take into account both the moon and the sun's cycles. To keep the length of the lunar year consistent with the Gregorian year, a month is usually added approximately every three years. This added month is called a leap month. The lunar calendar typically has seven leap months over a period of nineteen years, and a month is added every two to three years, ensuring that the lunar year maintains an average length consistent with the Gregorian year in the long run.
Through this article, we can understand that the leap sixth month is not actually "two Junes," but rather a special phenomenon in the lunar calendar. The existence of the leap sixth month causes two lunar sixth months to appear in a single year, but they are still considered the same month. In traditional Chinese beliefs, the leap sixth month is considered auspicious, suitable for marriage and childbirth. At the same time, we also need to distinguish between the concepts of leap year and leap month, which belong to different rules in the Gregorian and lunar calendars respectively. In summary, the leap sixth month is a unique lunar phenomenon worth further understanding and exploration.
