Chinese New Year, everything you need to know about the Yang Fire Horse (Bing Wu) 2026 year, and so much more.

© Last updated by Daniel Hanna 2025

How to make the most of the year of the Yang Fire Horse (Bing Wu) with the 2026 Feng Shui Cures & Enhancers kits.

Chinese New Year 17th February 2026 – 13th March 2027
Yang Fire Horse (Bing Wu)

Are you prepared for 2026 – The year of the Yang Fire Horse?

Compatible Chinese Animals Sign in 2026:
Tiger, Goat, Dog

Incompatible Chinese animals in 2026:
Rat, Ox, Snake

Good Travel Directions in 2026
East, South, West

Lucky colours for 2026:
Green, Yellow

Chinese New Year 2026 will commence with the New Moon, and based on the Lunar calendar, this falls on February 17th, 2026. Celebrated all around the world by millions, the Lunar New Year follows the Winter Solstice and marks a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. It is a period of family reunions, where loved ones gather to welcome the New Year together. Below, you’ll find all the essential information about the Chinese New Year 2026, the Year of the Yang Fire Horse.

Individuals born in the Year of the Rat may experience conflicting influences during the Year of the Yang Fire Horse. As the Rat is in opposition to the Horse, those born under this sign should be cautious of potential challenges and avoid unnecessary risks in all areas of life. By heeding the advice provided, you can navigate these difficulties and enjoy a prosperous 2026, so there’s no need to worry.

It should be noted that there are five different types of each Chinese Animal (fire, water, wood, earth, metal), which will depend on the year you were born, and each different animal will have different predictions for the year ahead.

For example:
Metal Snake: 1941, 2001
Water Snake: 1953, 2013Wood Snake: 1965, 2025
Fire Snake: 1917, 1977
Earth Snake: 1929, 1989

Good to know facts about the Chinese New Year

• Chinese New Year is also called “Spring Festival” or “Lunar New Year”, due to the start of spring being the first of the seasons in the traditional solar calendar.
• The festival is recognised nationally, celebrated by over 2 billion people, with some countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea having public holidays.
• The date of the Chinese New Year changes each year and is determined by the Lunar Calendar, always falling between January 21 and February 20.
• The festivities last 16 days, commencing on Chinese New Year’s Eve through to the Lantern Festival. Each day will be marked with a special celebratory activity.
• Believed to scare evil spirits with their flash and bang, the Chinese New Year sees the largest amount of fireworks set off in a single hour worldwide.
•  Chinese New Year marks the start of the next Zodiac year. A total of 12 animals, each with their unique qualities. The Zodiac for the year is believed to have a significant impact on those born in it.

What to eat over the Chinese New Year

• For Prosperity, Fish is a traditional dish on the Chinese New Year dinner menu, with steamed fish being the most popular choice. Cruican carp, mud carp, and Catfish are amongst the fish on the menu, as when translated into Chinese, they symbolise good luck and fortune.
• For Wealth, Dumplings have been around for thousands of years and are hugely popular over the New Year. It is believed that the more dumplings you eat over the celebratory period, the more money you will make. This is because Chinese dumplings can be made to look like silver ingots.
• For Happiness & Longevity- Uncut noodles and longer than normal noodles are served over Chinese New Year. Known as Longevity noodles, a very lucky food to eat, symbolising a wish for a long and happy life.
• For Luck & Fortune, Oranges and similar fruits are traditional New Year fruits as they are round and golden in colour, believed to represent fullness and wealth. These fruits will be eaten or displayed due to the belief that they bring good luck and fortune, as when translated, they sound similar to success and luck.
• For Harmony- Vegetables, a must-have on the family reunion table. Each signifying something specific, but as a whole, representing renewal, progress, wealth, and energy. Broccoli is amongst the dishes served for its symbolism of harmony.
• Togetherness- Sweet Rice Balls are usually eaten at the Lantern Festival; however, families eat them throughout Chinese New Year due to their rounded shape symbolising unity and being together.

The Red Envelope 

Traditionally given to children and unmarried adults to inspire positive energy and blessings for the year ahead.

The red envelope, or  “Ang Pow” has a history dating back to Ancient China and is a significant part of the Chinese New Year.

Usually red or gold in colour, money is placed in the Ang Pow to symbolise luck and prosperity.

The Ang Pow is believed to ward off negative energy and protect the recipient against evil spirits, instead promoting long life, success, good health, and fortune.

The amount of money you give in an Ang Pow should reflect both your financial situation and your relationship with the recipient.

How to give an Ang Pow

• Select an envelope with a design that you like
• Try to give a red, gold or orange envelope
• Avoid white Ang Pow’s as this is reserved for funerals
• Try to give even money such as £20 and avoid odd numbers
• Do not give money that has a 4 in the total; if you were going to give £40, give £38 instead
• Hand over the envelope with both hands
• Try to use clean, new notes

We will add information for the year of the Yang Fire Horse around October 2026. Below, you will find information for the Snake year, until the new pages have been uploaded to the website

Annual afflictions for 2026:

• • Grand Duke in 2026 is in the south – 172.5 – 187.5
  • Three Killings in 2026 is in the north – 322.5 – 37.5
  • Sui Po in 2026 is in the north – 352.5 – 7.5

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Holidays and observances in China in 2025

In China, there are seven legal holidays in any year, namely New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping), Labour Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.

Amongst these official holidays are four traditional Chinese holidays, which is always subject to the lunar calendar. The double third festival is on March 31st 2025 although this is only celebrated by Zhuang Nationality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Although the solar (Hsia) calendar commences the New Year at the beginning of Spring, which usually falls between the 3rd and 4th of February, the lunar (Yueh) calendar marks the New Year on the second new moon after the winter solstice.  Celebrations and festivities for the Chinese New Year are held on this date. In 2025, the Lunar Chinese New Year, also known as the ‘Spring Festival,’ falls on the 29th of January 2025.

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© Feng Shui Store Daniel Hanna 2025