• Jeyaseelan David
• V. Marappan

The lunisolar calendar represents one of humanity’s earliest and most enduring attempts to harmonize celestial cycles with social and cultural life. Rooted in the dual observation of the Moon’s phases and the Sun’s annual journey, lunisolar systems emerged across civilizations to regulate agriculture, ritual, and communal identity. This study traces the historical evolution of lunisolar calendars from ancient Mesopotamia and Greece to their continued use in Chinese, Hebrew and Tamil traditions. By examining textual sources, astronomical foundations, and cultural practices, the research highlights how societies resolved the inherent tension between lunar months (~29.5 days) and the solar year (~365 days) through the insertion of leap months. The paper explores the symbolic significance of lunar rhythms, the practical necessity of solar alignment, and the cultural creativity that shaped diverse calendar systems. Special attention is given to the Tamil calendar, which exemplifies a hybrid model: solar months structured by zodiacal transitions, complemented by lunar phases guiding festivals. Through comparative analysis, this study demonstrates that lunisolar calendars are not merely technical devices but cultural artifacts, embodying cosmological beliefs, agricultural cycles, and ritual continuity. The research underscores their relevance as living traditions that bridge astronomy, history, and cultural identity.

Lunisolar Calendar, History, Culture, Calendar, Tamil Calendar

"A Historical and Cultural Study of the Lunisolar Calendar", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 12, page no.c1-c2, December-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2512201.pdf

"A Historical and Cultural Study of the Lunisolar Calendar", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 12, page no. ppc1-c2, December-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2512201.pdf