Year of the Horse: The meaning of the Lunar New Year symbol for 2026

On Tuesday 17 February, Asian communities astir nan world will ringing successful nan Year of nan Horse with organization carnivals, family gatherings, parades, accepted food, fireworks and, different festivities. In galore Asian countries, it is simply a show that is celebrated for respective days. In diaspora communities, peculiarly successful taste enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated.

In nan Chinese zodiac, 2026 is nan Year of nan Horse. Different countries crossed Asia observe nan caller twelvemonth successful galore ways and whitethorn travel a different zodiac.

What is nan Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year — known arsenic nan Spring Festival successful China, Tet successful Vietnam and Seollal successful Korea — is simply a awesome show celebrated successful respective Asian countries. In Indonesia, it is celebrated pinch dragon puppets and drum displays. It is besides wide observed by diaspora communities astir nan world.

It originates pinch nan first caller satellite of nan lunar almanac and ends 15 days later connected nan first afloat moon. Because nan lunar almanac is based connected nan cycles of nan moon, nan dates of nan vacation alteration somewhat each year, falling betwixt precocious January and mid-February.

What are nan animals of nan zodiac?

Each twelvemonth honours an animal based connected nan Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — nan rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, canine and pig — measurement nan cycles of time. Legend has it that a deity beckoned each animals to bid him farewell earlier his departure from Earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is somewhat different, honouring nan feline alternatively of nan rabbit and nan buffalo alternatively of nan ox.

What does nan Year of nan Horse mean?

In Chinese culture, nan equine stands arsenic a revered awesome of freedom, vitality, and unbridled ambition. These creatures, celebrated for their velocity and independent spirit, are seen to resent immoderate shape of restraint. For nan twelvemonth 2026, this powerful symbolism points towards a play ripe for channelling caller opportunities and embracing important transformation.

What are immoderate beliefs and traditions astir nan Lunar New Year?

One well-known ancient fable speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted connected quality soma connected New Year’s Day. Because nan beast feared nan colour red, large noises and fire, group put up reddish insubstantial dragons connected their doors, burned reddish lanterns each nighttime and group disconnected firecrackers to frighten and pursuit distant nan monster.

To this day, nan Lunar New Year ceremony is centred astir removing bad luck and welcoming each that is bully and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious colour to ringing successful nan caller year. In galore Asian cultures, nan colour symbolises bully luck and joy. People dress successful reddish attire, decorate their homes pinch reddish insubstantial lanterns and usage reddish envelopes to springiness loved ones and friends money for nan caller year. Gambling and playing accepted games is communal during this clip crossed cultures.

Ancestor believe is besides common. Many Korean families participate successful a ritual called “charye,” wherever female family members hole nutrient and males service it to ancestors. The last measurement of nan ceremony, called “eumbok,” involves nan full family partaking nan nutrient and seeking blessings from their ancestors for nan coming year. Vietnamese group navigator accepted dishes and spot them connected a location altar arsenic a people of respect to their ancestors.

Some Indigenous group besides observe Lunar New Year this clip of year, including members of Mexico’s Purepecha Indigenous group.

How do diaspora communities celebrate?

Members of Asian American communities astir nan U.S. besides organise parades, carnivals and festivities astir nan Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, accepted nutrient and taste performances. In summation to cleaning their homes, galore bargain caller things for their location specified arsenic furnishings and decorate utilizing orchids and different brightly coloured flowers.

Lunar New Year is besides celebrated arsenic a taste arena by immoderate Asian American Christians and is observed by respective Catholic dioceses crossed nan U.S. arsenic good arsenic different churches.

What are immoderate typical foods for nan caller year?

Each civilization has its ain database of typical foods during nan caller year, including dumplings, atom cakes, outpouring rolls, tangerines, food and meats. In nan Chinese culture, for example, “changshou mian” aliases “long-life noodles” are consumed pinch a wish for a long, patient and happy life. In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet — accepted dishes made from glutinous atom — are a must. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined pinch rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is past wrapped successful nan leaves and tied up pinch strings. Koreans observe pinch tteokguk, a brothy crockery that contains thinly sliced atom cakes. Warm bowls of snake crockery are besides connected nan paper successful immoderate Hong Kong snake shops, arsenic nan Lunar New Year approaches.