On Tuesday 17 February, Asian communities around the world will welcome the Year of the Horse with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, the festival is celebrated for several days, and diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, mark the occasion visibly and joyfully.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. The Lunar New Year, known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea, begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the holiday's dates vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.
Each year honours an animal from the Chinese zodiac, a cycle of 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Legend has it that a god summoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from Earth, but only 12 appeared. The Vietnamese zodiac differs slightly, honouring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox.
In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises freedom, vitality and unbridled ambition. These creatures, celebrated for their speed and independent spirit, are seen to resent restraint. For 2026, this symbolism points towards a period ripe for channelling new opportunities and embracing significant transformation.
One ancient legend tells of Nian, a monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year's Day. Because the beast feared the colour red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten it away. Today, Lunar New Year celebrations centre on removing bad luck and welcoming prosperity. Red is considered auspicious, and people dress in red, decorate with red lanterns and give red envelopes containing money. Gambling and traditional games are common across cultures.
Ancestor worship is also prevalent. Many Korean families perform 'charye', where female members prepare food and males serve it to ancestors. The final step, 'eumbok', involves the family sharing the food and seeking blessings. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on home altars to honour ancestors. Special foods include dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. In Chinese culture, 'changshou mian' or long-life noodles are eaten for a long, healthy life. Vietnamese families prepare banh chung and banh tet, while Koreans enjoy tteokguk, a brothy soup with sliced rice cakes.
