Lunar calendar facts for kids
A lunar calendar is a special type of calendar. It follows the different moon phases. Think of it like a clock that uses the moon instead of the sun! Each lunar month is about 29.5 days long. A full year in a lunar calendar, called a lunar year, usually has 12 of these months. This adds up to about 354 days.
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The Islamic Calendar
One well-known lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar. It starts a new month with the sighting of a new crescent moon. A key thing about the Islamic calendar is that every year has exactly 12 months.
How the Islamic Calendar Works
Because it always has 12 months, the Islamic calendar does not stay lined up with the seasons. Each year, it shifts about 11 to 12 days earlier compared to the solar calendar. This means that over time, the months move through all the seasons. For example, a month that was in summer one year might be in winter several years later. It takes about 33 Islamic years for the calendar to return to its original position relative to the solar year.
Uses of the Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar is mostly used for religious events and holidays. In Saudi Arabia, it is also the official calendar for daily life.
Other Lunar Calendars
Some other lunar calendars add extra months every now and then. This helps them stay more in sync with the solar calendar and the seasons. These are often called lunisolar calendars.
History of Lunar Calendars
The oldest known lunar calendar was found in Scotland. Scientists believe it dates back to around 8,000 BC. This shows that people have been tracking the moon's cycles for a very long time!
Images for kids
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Iranian Islamic calendar dedicated to Qajar ruler Naser al-Din Shah in 1280, Linden Museum, Stuttgart, Germany
See also
In Spanish: Calendario lunar para niños
