{"id":67646,"date":"2026-01-06T08:03:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=67646"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:42:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:42:45","slug":"how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"How to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"It's
It’s the Year of the Fire Horse. Everyone can join in the Chinese New Year celebrations. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chinese New Year celebrates prosperity and respect and, like many American holidays, includes decorations, gifts, family gatherings, remembrances and symbolism.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is like the combination of America\u2019s Thanksgiving to New Year\u2019s Day,\u201d said Karen Wong-Brown, whose nonprofit, Unified Workforce<\/a>, has hosted Asian Lunar Year celebrations in Fort Collins over the years. This year’s event will take place<\/a> from 6-9 p.m., Feb. 21, 2026, at Drake Centre in Fort Collins.<\/p>\n

In 2026, the Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, falls on February 17, though many people who celebrate the Asian holiday start preparing about two weeks beforehand. Throughout Colorado, organizations and communities host Lunar New Year celebrations to honor America’s rich immigrant history and to increase cultural awareness and acceptance.<\/p>\n

In the new year, many people embrace Chinese New Year as a cultural celebration that brings good fortune and good health.<\/p>\n

When does Chinese New Year start?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year because it falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on Dec. 21. It follows the lunar calendar, so it is celebrated on a different date each year, between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.<\/p>\n

The lunar calendar is based on the moon’s monthly orbit around the Earth. In contrast, the Gregorian calendar, used in most parts of the world, including China, is based on the Earth\u2019s revolution around the sun.

\n

Lunar New Year events<\/strong><\/h4>\n

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Feb. 7: Colorado Springs Annual Lunar New Year Festival<\/a> hosted by the Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute.<\/p>\n

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 11: MSU Denver Luncar New Year Celebration<\/a> hosted by the Metropolitan State University of Denver.<\/p>\n

6-9 p.m., Feb. 21: Unified Workforce Asian Lunar New Year Celebration<\/a> in Fort Collins, hosted by Unified Workforce.<\/p>\n

8 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 28: Parker Arts Lunar New Year Celebration<\/a> hosted by Parker Arts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Is Lunar New Year only celebrated in China?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lunar New Year (or a similar interpretation) is celebrated in China, North and South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei and East India. There are opportunities around the globe to join in a Lunar New Year celebration and welcome The Year of the Fire Horse.<\/p>\n

Although most people know of this holiday as \u201cChinese New Year,\u201d Wong-Brown purposely named her event \u201cAsian Lunar Year Celebration\u201d to include all the countries that celebrate a new year based on a lunar calendar. The co-sponsors for the event are City of Fort Collins Cultural Community Programs<\/a>, Fort Collins Community Action Network<\/a>, Larimer County Democrats, Drake Center, UCHealth and Asian Chamber of Commerce<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why does Chinese New Year have animals?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Year of the Fire Horse starts Feb. 17, 2026, and continues up until the next Lunar New Year on Feb. 6, 2027, according to the Chinese calendar.<\/p>\n

As a child, Wong-Brown\u2019s grandfather told her the century-old story of the zodiac animals<\/a>. The 12 zodiac animals were winners of a race organized by the Jade Emperor, one of the most important gods in traditional Chinese religion.<\/p>\n

Like the Western zodiac, the Chinese zodiac has 12 animals. But instead of one for each month, it is one animal for the entire year.<\/p>\n

Each animal has its own traits. According to the zodiac, the fire horse is a combination of the fire’s passion and a horse’s courage. The fire horse is passionate, fearless and energetic. It is a born leader who is a creative and imaginative thinker. Famous fire horses include Janet Jackson, Adam Sandler and Mike Tyson.<\/p>\n

The fire horse year is associated with peak energy, transformation and momentum, making it a time for bold moves and exploration. The last fire horse year was 1966.<\/p>\n

What are some Chinese New Year traditions?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Everything is about symbolism, said Wong-Brown. From the clothes you wear and the food you eat to when you clean your house \u2014 it is all done to bring luck and prosperity into the new year.<\/p>\n

For example, numbers have significance because when pronounced in Chinese, they sound similar to other Chinese words. For example, when spoken in Chinese, the number eight sounds like the word “success,” \u00a0nine sounds like the word \u00a0\u201clongevity,\u201d and two sounds like \u201charmony.” Four is considered extremely unlucky because it sounds like the word \u201cdeath\u201d in Chinese, Wong-Brown said.<\/p>\n

\"young
During the Chinese New Year celebrations, elders recognize the younger generation by giving them a red envelope, usually containing money or something of monetary value. Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here are some other symbolisms Wong-Brown highlights:<\/p>\n

Chinese New Year cleaning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

About two weeks before the big celebration, it is time for cleaning to sweep away the dust of the past year. Cleaning occurs before the Lunar New Year because, on the Chinese New Year, it’s bad luck to clean the house as you could sweep out all the luck you just brought in.<\/p>\n

The same goes for washing or cutting your hair \u2014 do it before New Year’s Day. And put on new clothes \u2014 preferably in colors of red and gold. Red symbolizes good luck, and gold represents prosperity.<\/p>\n

Black and white colors are considered bad luck.<\/p>\n

Chinese New Year decorations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After the home is clean, decorations in red and gold are hung, much like decorations that people hang to celebrate Christmas.<\/p>\n

Honoring ancestors and elders in the new year<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chinese New Year is similar to Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).<\/a> The holiday is an opportunity to pay respects to ancestors by placing flowers, fruit or other gifts at an altar or grave.<\/p>\n

On Lunar New Year\u2019s Eve, extended family members get together for a big feast, and elders are recognized at this time, Wong-Brown said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe younger generation will say something to the elders that wishes them a happy new year and good health,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd if they have a job, we include good wishes for them in their job, too. And we bow our head and do a gesture for our ancestors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving red envelopes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Elders also recognize the younger generation during this time by giving them a red envelope, usually containing money or something of monetary value.<\/p>\n

“When I was growing up, I remember most the red envelopes with money in them,” Wong-Brown said. “The children pay respect to the elders and in return, we got red envelopes to have a prosperous new year.”<\/p>\n

She continues that tradition by giving her nieces and nephews red envelopes.<\/p>\n

The Lion Dance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“The origin of the lion dance is to ward off evil spirits,” Wong-Brown said. “But in the past, it was used as a competition for martial art schools. Schools would compete with one another in the lion dance, and the best schools would get funding that year.”<\/p>\n

What food do you eat for Chinese New Year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“We would have a big feast at the end of the day, and everything we ate symbolized something,\u201d Wong-Brown said.<\/p>\n

At Wong-Brown’s family table, there are dumplings and whole fish for prosperity, noodles for longevity, spring rolls for wealth and fruit for wellness. Sweet rice balls for dessert symbolize family unity and togetherness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember I was always happy with family and surroundings,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd not more so than other days, but you only say nice things to people so they have a prosperous new year.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chinese New Year celebrates prosperity and respect and, like many American holidays, includes decorations, gifts, family gatherings, remembrances and symbolism. \u201cIt is like the combination of America\u2019s Thanksgiving to New Year\u2019s Day,\u201d said Karen Wong-Brown, whose nonprofit, Unified Workforce, has hosted Asian Lunar Year celebrations in Fort Collins over the years. This year’s event will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2164,"featured_media":73592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[9187,4792],"class_list":["post-67646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-colorado","tag-readysetco","tag-to-do-in-colorado"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to celebrate the Chinese New Year - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chinese New Year celebrates prosperity and, like many American holidays, includes decorations, gifts, gatherings, remembrances and symbolism.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chinese New Year celebrates prosperity and, like many American holidays, includes decorations, gifts, gatherings, remembrances and symbolism.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T15:03:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T16:42:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/01\/10115456\/Asian-new-year-dragon-tiny.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kati Blocker, UCHealth\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/2974962d9c19ae1bbcec3250ab830fbc\"},\"headline\":\"How to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Fire Horse\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-06T15:03:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T16:42:45+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/\"},\"wordCount\":1279,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-celebrate-the-chinese-new-year\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/01\/10115456\/Asian-new-year-dragon-tiny.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Ready. 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Everyone can join in celebrations for Chinese New Year. 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