2026 中国新年

In Chinese astrology, a new year does not begin on January 1, but later. In 2026, that will be on Tuesday, February 17. From that moment on, the energy shifts to the next animal in the Chinese zodiac. According to mythological legend, the Jade Emperor chose the horse for the zodiac because of its help during the great flood that the legendary hero Dayu had brought under control. The horse was originally a heavenly steed from the Milky Way, but after accidentally eating a dragon seed, it was cast down to earth as an ordinary horse. In the zodiac race, the horse ranks seventh, thanks to its ability to cover “a thousand miles a day” with tireless energy, resilience, and relentless drive.

Origins and traditions

Chinese New Year is the most important of all traditional Chinese celebrations. It dates back to the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC – 1100 BC), when people worshipped gods and ancestors around the turn of the year. Only much later did it become a festival in which people said farewell to the old year and welcomed the new one. The date of Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, not the solar calendar. Chinese New Year begins on the second new moon after the December 21 solstice. According to our calendar, that falls somewhere between January 21 and February 20.

Chinese New Year announces the beginning of spring and is therefore also called the “Spring Festival.” With song and dance, people welcome the earth’s return to life and the start of the plowing and sowing season. In the days leading up to the New Year celebration, people buy gifts, decorations, special foods, and new clothes. On New Year’s Eve—“chuxi”—the house is thoroughly cleaned and decorated with paper-cut sayings and two rhyming couplets that express happiness, prosperity, and longevity.

New Year’s is a family celebration. No matter how far away people are from home, they do their utmost to experience the New Year’s dinner with the whole family. That is why, in the days before Chinese New Year, there is a true mass migration in China. Millions of people travel to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year there. On New Year’s Day, they visit friends and acquaintances to wish each other the best for the new year. It is a big, convivial celebration—not only at home with family, but also in the streets. There is plenty of eating and drinking, and of course there are lots of loud fireworks.

Characteristics of the Horse

The character “Horse” is much more than just a horoscope animal. The character 馬 originated from ancient drawings of a horse in motion. The flowing mane and strong legs are still recognizable even in its modern form. According to astrology, horses are elegant, loyal, intuitive, free-thinking, popular, extroverted, and eager to learn, but sometimes also a bit tactless, egocentric, unpredictable, fearless, and deaf and blind once they are focused on a goal.

The year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, which begins on February 17, 2026, and ends on February 5, 2027. The horse is the seventh animal in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac according to the Chinese calendar. In addition to the cycle of zodiac animals, there is also a cycle of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each Chinese year therefore also has a corresponding element. In 2026, the element is Fire, which is why this year is known as the Year of the Fire Horse. In short, the Horse symbolizes energy, freedom, speed, and perseverance. This will be the year to DO what we have long wanted to do—so no more doubting, just do it. This means that 2026 will become the Year of optimism and opportunities.

Famous people born in the Year of the Horse

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the late South African former president Nelson Mandela, Louisa May Alcott, Chopin, Davy Crockett, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Sandra Day O’Connor, Rembrandt, Teddy Roosevelt, Sir Isaac Newton, Barbara Streisand, Cindy Crawford, Cynthia Nixon, Denzel Washington, Harrison Ford, Jason Biggs, Jackie Chan, Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta, Leonard Bernstein, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Rembrandt, Ashton Kutcher, Emma Watson, Josh Hartnett, Katie Holmes, Kristen Stewart, Kobe Bryant, Genghis Khan.

Which animal are you?

Based on your date of birth, you can determine which animal you are according to Chinese astrology. The following table provides an overview of the years 1900–2031. If you were born in January or February, you should check online to see which Chinese year you were born in, because Chinese New Year begins somewhere between late January and early February.