How Many Days Until Lunar New Year?
Year of the Horse (2026)
Lunar New Year 2026 begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
About Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié) in China and celebrated across many East and Southeast Asian cultures (e.g., Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea), is one of the most important traditional holidays. Its date is determined by the lunisolar calendar, typically falling between late January and mid-February. The celebration marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, symbolizing renewal and reunion.
Origins and Significance
Rooted in ancient agricultural society, Lunar New Year has evolved over millennia.
Ancient Roots
Believed to originate thousands of years ago, possibly linked to end-of-year agricultural sacrifices and ancestor worship.
Myth of Nian
Legend tells of a beast called Nian (年) that preyed on villagers. Loud noises (firecrackers) and the color red were used to scare it away, becoming key traditions.
Family Reunion
The holiday emphasizes family unity. It's the largest annual human migration as people travel home for reunion dinners (年夜饭 niányèfàn).
Renewal & Luck
It's a time to sweep away bad luck from the old year and welcome good fortune, prosperity, and longevity for the new one.
Key Lunar New Year Traditions
Celebrations are rich with symbolism and customs:
- Cleaning and Decorating: Thorough house cleaning before the New Year sweeps away bad luck. Homes are decorated with red items like lanterns, paper cuttings, and couplets (春联 chūnlián) with auspicious phrases.
- Reunion Dinner: A lavish family feast on New Year's Eve, featuring symbolic foods like fish (surplus), dumplings (wealth), and spring rolls (wealth).
- Red Envelopes (红包 hóngbāo): Married couples and elders give red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried adults for good luck.
- Firecrackers and Fireworks: Set off to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
- Lion and Dragon Dances: Performances believed to bring good luck and fortune, often seen in parades and celebrations.
- Visiting Family and Friends: Paying respects to elders and exchanging good wishes during the first few days of the New Year.
- Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāo jié): Marks the end of the 15-day celebration, often featuring lantern displays, riddles, and eating sweet glutinous rice balls (汤圆 tāngyuán).
The Chinese Zodiac (生肖 Shēngxiào)
The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal sign to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. The animal for 2026 is the Horse. Each animal is associated with certain personality traits.
Your zodiac year (本命年 běnmìngnián) is traditionally considered a year of potential challenges, requiring extra caution or wearing red for protection.