Chinese New Year is annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world from Lunar New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival, It begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western, Gregorian calendars. Festivities last until the following full moon. In China, this official public holiday offers 9 days off work from February 15 through February 23, 2026. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on February 17th.
One Chinese New Year legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named Nian ("Year") attacked villagers at the beginning of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the color red, so those things were used to chase the beast away. Celebrations to usher out the old year and bring forth the luck and prosperity of the new one usually include firecrackers, fireworks, and red clothes and decorations. Young people are given money in colorful red envelopes. In addition, Chinese New Year is a time to feast and to visit family members. Many traditions of the season honor relatives who have died.
Among other Chinese New Year traditions is the thorough cleaning of one's home to rid the resident of any lingering bad luck. Some people prepare and enjoy special foods on certain days during the celebrations. The last event held during the Chinese New Year is called the Lantern Festival, during which people hang glowing lanterns in temples or carry them during a nighttime parade. Since the dragon is a Chinese symbol of good fortune, a dragon dance highlights the festival in many areas. This is the procession that everyone knows as a symbol of Chinese New Year, it involves a long, colorful dragon being carried through the streets by numerous dancers.
Chinese zodiac is annual classification system in Chinese culture following the Chinese lunar calendar yingyang li (literally, "heaven-earth") in which each year in a 12-year cycle is assigned an animal. Each animal is associated with a personality that typifies the year, and those born during that year supposedly exhibit those personalities. The cycle changes to a new animal each year at the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 17, 2026. The order of animals restarts after going through the cycle of the 12 animals. Unlike the Western zodiac system, which is based on months named for constellations, the Chinese zodiac changes its animal sign with each year. In terms of predicting human outcomes, the emphasis is on one's birth year rather than month.
This Year of the Fire Horse in 2026 promises to be a vibrant and dynamic year, filled with opportunities for growth and success. It is a time to embrace the Horse's qualities of enthusiasm and determination, making the most of the energetic spirit that this zodiac sign embodies.