As Chinese New Year begins on 17th February 2026, writer Jenny Sanders reflects on the meaning behind the Year of the Horse through a Christian lens. In the midst of vibrant celebration and ancient tradition, she invites us to consider where our trust truly lies.
Chinese New Year Celebrations begin today, on 17th February: 2026 is the Year of the Horse.
‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.’ Psalm 20:7 (NIVUK). While much of the world works from a Gregorian calendar, China sticks to the lunar one which means their year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which is a different date each year. Celebrations will culminate on 3rd March with a lantern festival.
For more than 3,000 years the Chinese have been honouring deities and ancestors, featuring red clothing and decor, sweeping their houses to make space for prosperity and good luck, enjoying dragon and lion dances as well as fireworks, exchanging red envelopes of crisp monetary notes, and gathering for family reunions and dinners. Menus will include fish to symbolise abundance, dumplings for wealth and sticky rice for family togetherness.
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In 2024 around 9 billion passengers made journeys around the country boosting the economy just as Black Friday or Christmas do in the west. In 2023 spending exceeded US$150 billion.
The calendar we’re familiar with has twelve zodiac divisions - Aries, Taurus, Gemini etc. They are astrological signs based on the sun’s position at birth. The Chinese follow a twelve year cycle represented by animals which they believe have different meanings that will also affect their personalities, relationships and prosperity.
The Rat represents someone clever, adaptable and ambitious. The Ox represents reliability, patience and strength. The Tiger represents bravery, confidence and passion. The Rabbit represents gentleness, intuition and artistry. The Dragon represents charisma, power, luck. The Snake represents wisdom, grace, strategy skills. The Horse represents energy, independence , loyalty. The Sheep represents compassion, creativity, calmness. The Monkey represents cleverness, curiosity, adaptability. The Rooster represents loyalty, fairness, protectiveness. The Pig represents kindness, generosity and sincerity.
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These ‘earthly stems’ are complemented by the ten ‘heavenly stems’ consisting of the five elements of wood, water, fire, earth and metal which alternate between pairing with ying or yang (hence ten components).
These ‘earthly stems’ are complemented by the ten ‘heavenly stems’ consisting of the five elements of wood, water, fire, earth and metal which alternate between pairing with ying or yang (hence ten components). These combine to make 60 unique combinations and so a 60 year cycle operates. Year 1 will come around again in 2044. 2026 is the year of the Horse (Yang, Fire, Horse) and, consequently, is predicted to be particularly significant, or lucky, based on numerology. Those who believe in the inherent meaning behind the calendar see the year ahead as combining the independence and energy of the horse with the intensity and passion of fire. Rapid change, ambition and movement are expected to manifest themselves over the next twelve months.
What are we to make of this? Is this just a fascinating cultural spring festival full of sound and colour? Most of Europe would now be considered post-christian, or secular but those nations celebrate Christmas regardless. Cultural Chinese may feel the same.
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Perhaps we could ask ourselves how we regard our own zodiac. Do we rely on horoscopes and speculation to define our personalities or influence our decisions or future? If we are born under a particular star sign does it inevitably mean that we are compatible and/or incompatible with someone born under a different one? Is that relevant? Does it mean that our journey through life is more akin to fate where we have little or no choice in the outcome; that we fundamentally cannot change?
The Apostle Paul writes in many of his letters about the great changes that occur when we surrender our lives to God.
That can’t be the case for Jesus followers. The Apostle Paul writes in many of his letters about the great changes that occur when we surrender our lives to God. We move from darkness to light (Ephesians 5:8) and from death to life (John 5:24); there can’t be a bigger change than that! Paul encourages us to ‘be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind’ (Romans 12:2) and to effect character change by growing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If we can’t be changed from the inside out, we’re doomed to whatever life throws at us; reactionaries to any and every stimulus that comes our way.
Zodiacs of any culture are simply a man-made interpretation of a created phenomena but, what a privilege, we are invited to see beyond the created to know the Creator Himself. Not just know about Him but to enjoy a living, loving relationship of intimacy with Him. That’s neither luck nor fate; that’s amazing grace
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