What the Chinese Year of the Horse means for you

We may have celebrated a new year just six weeks ago, but if things haven’t quite gone to plan, then there’s good news: you’ve got a second chance. Lunar New Year is approaching in a matter of days, beginning on February 17 and running to February 5, 2027.

Chinese astrology has its own tradition of assigning each year one of 12 animals and five elements. This means that it operates on a 60-year cycle, and next up, we have the Year of the Fire Horse, with the Wood Snake coming to an end (good news for a lot of people).

Here, Dr Xuan Wang, a senior lecturer in Chinese studies at Cardiff University, explains what it all means.

The significance of the Lunar New Year and how it is celebrated

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated over a 15-day period by around two billion people – the exact date always varies as it is tied to the new moon. It is practised in countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as communities around the world.

It begins around a week before the new year with Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. “Big preparation takes place; cleaning the house, decorating, stocking up food, visiting family and people in the community and sorting red envelopes, which symbolise good luck and prosperity, to hand out. It’s one exciting thing after another, but the highlight is the last day of the old year,” explains Dr Wang.

“We don’t go to bed because the idea is to wait for the old year to pass and the new year to arrive. We listen to music, watch performances, sit around a fire, crack sunflower seeds and share gossip. When I was little, I lived in Wuhan, China, and we didn’t have a lot material-wise, but the community feeling around new year had a long-lasting impact on me. It was the best time of the year.”

The Year of the Fire Horse

Like the Gregorian New Year, it is a time for new beginnings. “It’s longing for something better, a feeling of optimism, hope and aspiration,” says Dr Wang. “It’s also a chance to rejoice in tradition.” A big part of the culture is the Chinese zodiac, rich in symbolism and culture. In that spirit, Dr Wang breaks down what the Fire Horse means. “It’s an open page for anyone to interpret, but the majority of people see the horse as very energetic. You can imagine galloping, so it brings a sense of momentum, strength and power, and a year of going towards success.”

In this way, it can be viewed as a year of not just talking about what you’ve always dreamed of but getting it. She continues: “It’s a year of action; you really want to drive up your energy, take initiatives and move. All you have to do is go towards what you want.

“On the other side, because no symbol is inherently negative or positive, it will be challenging, too. The horse tells people that in the midst of driving forward, they should go at a pace that doesn’t burn them out, and be cautious when needed.”

Moving on to the fire aspect, Dr Wang says: “All elements are equally important, but I see the fire as being really strong.” It is seen as igniting people, fostering an unparalleled era of enthusiasm and innovation.

“I really do believe the upcoming year is going to be such a different year; it will bring so much more into my life. It’s driving me towards setting priorities and gearing towards that. It feels very special,” she summarises.

However, she pragmatically points out that any year’s zodiac symbol doesn’t “determine your destiny”: “It’s not that different from next year or the year before, but it can help people make sense of their lives by providing orientation and direction. It makes you look ahead and back, and nowadays, it has become a way of spreading Chinese culture.”

How to prepare for the new year

One way to mark the new year is by wearing new garments, as it can symbolise shedding the misfortunes of the past, before embracing more favourable energy, so shopping for a new outfit is a good way to spend the weekend. It could be said that this pastime takes on extra importance as the Year of the Wood Snake comes to an end, as people have interpreted the year as shedding old habits and outdated relationships.

“You want to get rid of old things that bring negativity, like clearing debt if you can and cleaning out the house,” Dr Wang says.

“A general cultural taboo is not to argue in these final few days. Stay away from things that bring trouble and bring bad luck to yourselves or loved ones.”

Commenting on people’s negativity towards the Year of the Snake, even blaming it for difficult times, she says: “The reading that it’s been a challenging year purely because of the snake is narrow, but if it helps people understand the world, then that’s okay.”

The rise of Chinese astrology 

The Chinese zodiac calendar is having a moment, with British influencers including Sarah Ashcroft regularly talking about it, and the #yearofthesnake and #yearofthehorse reaching more than 100,000 posts on TikTok. Dr Wang has a theory as to why we’re seeing it more.

“China is becoming increasingly prominent on the world stage, so the cultural practices are spreading. The general public has more curiosity, and the growing presence of social media brings cultures from far away closer.

“I saw that Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter has become a symbol of the new year,” she says with a smile. The transliteration of Malfoy’s name into Chinese, Ma Er Fu, means horse, you and fortune, so some households have been displaying his image.

“It’s a sweet way of trying to bring a very British thing into Chinese culture and create something really different. Chinese New Year is something from 2,000 years ago, but it’s always reinventing itself and doesn’t just make sense to the Chinese; it’s for everyone.”