To begin with, technically speaking, there is no such thing as Widow Year or No-Li-Chun Year (aka Blind Year).
I have explained this concept at great length in my wedding date selection course to the students.
In Chinese folklore, 2024 is deemed by some as a year of no “Li Chun” and this is supposed to be inauspicious for couples who plan to get married – said some feng shui masters.
Those who unknowingly tie the knot will suffer ill-fate and likely to become widow.
Ok now, how can there be no Li Chun?
Li Chun, or Beginning of Spring, is an integral part of 24 Jie Qi (solar terms) and often falls on 4 February of every solar calendar year.
When you say 2024 has no Li Chun, it is akin to saying 2024 will not have any Winter Solstice, for example.
To cut to the chase, this myth of “No Li Chun” arises because of lack of understanding of the Chinese calendrical systems.
To shed some insights, and to make it more straightforward without going into complex jargons and nuances, traditionally the Chinese observe the Solar (阳历) and Lunisolar (农历) calendars.
The period for Solar Calendar Year is quite fixed – starts on 4 February and ends on 3 February the following year. Usually 365.2422 days a year.
The period for Lunisolar Calendar Year, however, varies. It can range from 354 to 384 days (the extra days or month are due to intercalation or in Chinese we term it “Run Yue” 闰月. Qi Men masters must know this especially if they are using the Zhi Run system).
The start day of its New Year is also not fixed.
When we say that there is no Li Chun for the year, it means that the whole Lunisolar calendar year (begins on 1st day CNY till following year CNY Eve) entails no Li Chun.
This is the math:
In 2024, Dragon year, the CNY (denoting the start of 2024 Lunisolar calendar Year) falls on 10 February – fail to include 4 February or Li Chun.
2024 Dragon Lunisolar Year will then end on 28 January 2025 – again fail to include 2025’s Li Chun (3 February).
So this results in “failing to include Li Chun” situation.
Blame it on a shorter Lunisolar Calendar Year.
On the contrary, there is this “Double Li Chun” Year when the Lunisolar Calendar Year is so much longer that it now can encompass 2 Li Chuns.
In this instance, 2025 Snake Year is known as a Double Spring (Li Chun) Year.
Why?
Because 2025 Snake Lunisolar Year will begin on 29 January 2025 and then end on 16 February 2026 – this time it encapsulates 2 Li Chuns.
You see, “Chun” or Spring in English, is often associated with love in Chinese culture. So, no Li Chun means “no love” and no love can lead to “no kids”.
So, when there is no love, how do you expect the marriage to turn out well?
And on the contrary, when there is a double spring year, love will be deemed to double and that is auspicious.
But does it guarantee all marriages in double spring years will be forever blessed and birth rate will shoot up?
You can check the statistic.
In gist, there is no unlucky year to get married. Neither there is a super lucky year to get married.
More importantly, for wedding event, one should pick a good date and hour (with all the auspicious stars aligned) to get married (sign ROM or tea ceremony) in accordance to the Bazi (DOB) of the couple.
Hope the above clarifies.