It’s New Year’s Eve! No, 2026 isn’t over already — we’re talking about Chinese New Year, which this year falls on Tuesday, February 17.
While for many in the UK, New Year comes at the stroke of midnight on January 1, Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) is celebrated by millions in Asia and beyond.
Kicking off 16-day Spring Festival, it’s a time for traditions, visiting family, and eating delicious food.
The exact date of Chinese New Year differs each year — as does the animal the year is associated with. The Chinese Zodiac assigns an animal to each year in a 12-year cycle. So, we’re saying goodbye to the snake of 2025, and entering the year of the horse.
When is Chinese New Year and how long do celebrations last?
For 2026, Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, February 17. The exact date changes as it’s determined by the arrival of a new moon.
However, every year it’s at at a similar time, somewhere between January 21 and February 20.
After the 15 day Spring Festival, the celebrations conclude with The Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the first month.
Red lanterns adorn homes and streets across the world, and during the festival, the lanterns are released into the sky, symbolising letting go of the past year, and welcoming in the next.
What does the Year of the Horse have in store?
The Chinese Zodiac includes 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, money, rooster, dog and pig.
According to legend, the Jade Emperor organised a race, inviting all animals to compete. Only these 12 took part, and were each granted a year to be named after them. The order they finished the race in (which involved a tricky river crossing), determined where they were placed in the Zodiac.
Despite it’s small size, the rat actually came first, having climbed on top of the back of the ox, and jumping off at the last second.
The horse symbolises energy, vitality and ambition. According to Metro’s astrologer, Patrick Arundell, the horse is known for it’s ‘vitality, independence, and unstoppable drive, with horses symbolising speed and strength.’
Patrick says: ‘Horses are also free spirits and can be restless, adventurous, and love to seek new horizons.
‘People born in a Year of the Horse are often described as charismatic, energetic, and ambitious, though sometimes a little impulsive.
‘And for 2026, the sign is paired with the element of Fire, meaning the typical horsepower of this Zodiac stallion is supercharged with an extra dose of passion and intensity.’
Want to know more about your Chinese Zodiac horoscope for 2026? Check out Patrick’s full reading for each animal sign.
Chinese New Year taboos: What to avoid if you want to celebrate the Year of the Horse
Want to have a joyful and prosperous New Year? There’s a few Chinese superstitions that you should absolutely avoid.
- Don’t wash or cut hair. You might want to reconsider your hair washing schedule. In Chinese languages, hair has the same pronunciation (and uses the same character) as ‘fa’ in ‘facia’ which means ‘to become wealthy’. Therefore, it is seen as washing away or cutting your ties to your fortune, and it’s why most hair salons in China will be closed on New Year’s Day. The same logic applies to doing any laundry.
- Don’t wear black or white. These colours are typically only worn for funerals, or periods of mourning, which isn’t the energy you want to go into the new year with. Instead, wear red, the colour of good luck and good fortune.
- Don’t say negative words. Speaking words which have negative connotations, like death, sick, pain, sadness, poor or kill can bring bad luck to you or your loved ones.
- Don’t break anything. Breaking things like bowls or glasses is thought to break your connection to good fortune. If you do break something, wrap it up in red paper and throw the shards away after the celebrations.
- Don’t clean. Cleaning and sweeping should be done in the run up to Spring Festival. Cleaning or taking out the rubbish could sweep away your good fortune.
- Don’t use sharp objects. Scissors and needles shouldn’t be used. Originally, this was to give women a break from their traditional duties. Now, it’s the idea that sharp objects will cut away your ties to wealth and success, and even cutting off relationships.
- Don’t visit the wife’s side of the family. if you’re married, it was customary for the wife to move in with the husband and his family. Visiting the wife’s side on New Year spells bad luck for your marriage, and the family.
- Don’t take medicine. This one excludes chronic illnesses, but it’s customary to avoid visiting the doctor or taking medicine as you can jinx yourself to be sick for the whole year ahead.
- Don’t lend or borrow money. If you lend money on New Year’s Day, it could mean money is flowing out of your accounts all year long. And, if you borrow, you’re starting the year in debt, and could mean you have to borrow money all year.
A guide to Chinese New Year gift giving: From red pockets with money to what not to give
One of the most popular traditions is the use of red envelopes filled with cash being exchanged.
This can happen between the young and old, married couples and singletons. Some will also just leave red wallets around, hung up in decorations and scattered about for anyone to find.
The money in red envelopes is also known as 压岁钱 (yā suì qián) – translated as ‘money to anchor the year.’ It is also known as ‘lucky money.’
According to legends, this tradition came about because there was thought to be a monstrous creature named Nian who, once per year, would come out of the forest at night and devour entire villages.
The steps of protection against Nian during New Year’s Eve – such as fireworks and lanterns – transformed into the Spring Festival celebration.
Parents would also give children money that night. This way, the children would have something to bribe the monster or other evil spirits with.
Other gifts can be given, but you should avoid giving gifts like a clock or a pear.
To gift a clock or watch is akin to paying your last respects – so, even if it’s a wonderful Rolex, you might be unintentionally wishing death upon someone.
Splitting a pear is a colloquialism that suggests impending divorce or dissolution of a relationship.
Other beliefs around Chinese New Year
It’s not just acts on the day, there are wider beliefs that permeate throughout the festival.
All throughout, a rice jar should not be allowed to become empty. This spells a lean year ahead, struggling to put food on the table.
Less achievable, one might argue, is to prevent a child from crying. A crying child during the New Year is a bad omen for the family in the coming year.
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