Question and Answer

060999
What's the significance of having a Leap Year AFTER the 8th month of the Chinese Calender? Any cultural or superstitious significance? I understand that a Leap months are quite common in the Chinese calender but it never happens after the 8th month. The last time there was a leap month after the 8th month was in the 1600.
Imelda, Singapore

A leap eighth-month is considered to be unlucky. This is because years with the leap eight-month had coincided with major disasters in the history of China.

It seems that in the period of 1905-2016, the leap eight-month appeared for 3 consecutive 19 years, in 1995, 1976 and 1957. I have no information about whether this pattern will repeat itself so I cannot confirm how rare such months are.

Related links:
Introduction to Chinese Calender.
Double Months.

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