gen-explain-the-lunar-versus-solar-calendar-as-you-would-to-a-ca-586d

Explain the lunar versus solar calendar as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

A **solar calendar** (like the one we use today) is based on Earth's orbit around the Sun, taking approximately 365.25 days to complete one year, which keeps our calendar aligned with the seasons. A **lunar calendar** is based on the Moon's phases, with each month lasting about 29.5 days for a complete cycle from new moon to new moon, resulting in a year of only 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, purely lunar calendars (like the Islamic calendar) gradually shift through the seasons, while some cultures use **lunisolar calendars** (like the Hebrew or traditional Chinese calendars) that add extra months periodically to stay synchronized with both the Moon's phases and the solar seasons.