Lunar New Year 2026 marks the Year of the Horse, a symbol of freedom, vitality, and ambition. The festival, celebrated across many East Asian countries, includes traditional activities such as dragon dances, fireworks, and festive foods.
The lunar calendar, based on moon phases, determines the date of Lunar New Year, distinct from the Gregorian calendar used in the UK. In countries like China, Japan, and Thailand, the lunisolar calendar is standard, blending solar and lunar cycles.
The horse is the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, which follows a mythological race won by the rat. Each year also carries an element from the 10 Heavenly Stems, creating combinations like wood rat or fire horse.
Common traditions include giving hóngbāo (red envelopes filled with money) for good luck and performing the Dragon Dance, where puppeteers animate a long dragon puppet in rhythmic movements. The festival concludes with the Lantern Festival on the final day.
