Lunar Year

A Lunar Year is a calendar based on the cycles of the Moon's phases, specifically the time it takes for the Moon to complete 12 full cycles or lunar months, which is approximately 354 days. This is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. To stay aligned with the solar calendar and maintain seasonal consistency, lunar calendar systems often add an extra month (a leap month) every few years. Lunar years are fundamental to various cultural and religious calendars, such as the Chinese, Islamic, and Jewish calendars, each with its own methods of calculating and adjusting for the lunar cycles.