Happy Chinese New Year !
It’s Chinese New Year this week, and I want to offer my best wishes to all my readers that celebrate the lunar new year.
新年快乐 ！(Happy new year)
It’s the start of the year of the Fire Horse.
The start of a new lunar year is a time of renewal, reflection, and optimism. Across the world, families and communities are come together to celebrate with traditions that emphasise good fortune, gratitude, and fresh beginnings.
It is a moment to look ahead with intention, let go of what no longer serves us, and welcome the year to come with a sense of possibility.
Why the “Fire Horse” and not just the “Horse”?
Chinese New Year doesn’t just run on 12 animals — it runs on a 60-year cycle that combines:
- An animal (the 12-year zodiac cycle), and
- An element (the 5-element cycle: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), each with Yin or Yang polarity.
How that works:
- Animals repeat every 12 years (Horse, Goat, Monkey, etc.).
- Elements repeat every 10 years (each element lasts two years: one Yang, one Yin).
So when you pair them together, you get 60 unique combinations. This means that when it’s the year of the horse, it’s actually one of:
- Wood Horse
- Fire Horse
- Earth Horse
- Metal Horse
- Water Horse
This particular year lines up with Horse in the animal cycle, and Fire in the element cycle (specifically Yang Fire).
That combination only happens once every 60 years.
The element adds character and symbolism:
- Fire → energy, intensity, visibility, volatility, passion
- Horse → independence, speed, movement, freedom
Put together, Fire Horse is traditionally seen as:
- Extremely dynamic
- Strong-willed
- Restless and powerful
- and Sometimes… a bit chaotic
In some cultures, Fire Horse years even have strong folklore attached — especially in Japan.
2026-02-17