A Real Reset: Year of the Horse

The first new moon of the lunar calendar is here - meaning Chinese New Year has officially begun!

It marks the true start of the new year in the traditional Chinese calendar, and the next two weeks are all about pressing reset, observing tradition, and spending time with family. It’s a much more thoughtful and deliberate kind of celebration - less about the rowdy midnight countdown, and more about welcoming the year with good intention.

Across China and Chinese communities around the world, normal routines are put on pause. In fact, at this time of year, the biggest annual human migration takes place, and millions of people travel long distances to be together. The real cornerstones of Chinese New Year are reunion, tradition, and luck. Luck plays a huge part! And with red being a lucky colour, it’s not surprising that you’ll find the entire country drenched in it. Red envelopes filled with money (hongbao) are also given as gifts, especially to children, as a way of passing on good fortune. When it comes to luck, food is a big part of it too, and is chosen for what it represents - dumplings are linked to wealth, noodles symbolise a long life, and fish represents abundance. The meaning behind it all is part of the ritual.

In the lead-up to Chinese New Year, people also clean their homes thoroughly. It’s practical, yes, but really it’s about sweeping away bad luck and making room for good fortune. Once the new year begins, cleaning stops. The idea is that you don’t want to accidentally throw away the good luck you’ve just welcomed in.

One of the most recognisable parts of Chinese New year is the zodiac. We don’t mean the Western star-sign-based zodiac, but the Chinese one, which determines your personality and fortune based on your year of birth.

There’s a repeated cycle of twelve animals, who each bring a certain type of energy and characteristics to the year. For example, 2026 rotates to the Year of the Horse, which is associated with freedom, momentum, and progress. A person born in a Horse year is often described as energetic, independent, and confident. A person born in a Rabbit year, however, is said to be calm, patient, and peaceful.

Whichever identity a year has though, the message is always the same: a new year is a new beginning, a chance to reset, and to sit back and see how the year turns out.

The zodiac has been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, but despite its ancient roots, the tradition lives on. And that’s really the whole point of it all. No dramatic resolutions or personal challenges - just a way of marking time and a reminder to live intentionally.

BY HOLLY GARWOOD, 17TH FEBRUARY 2026