Manila Bulletin
Lifestyle
Luminaries and Life
In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse begins 13 days before the Chinese New Year
Lifestyle
Luminaries and Life
In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse begins 13 days before the Chinese New Year
In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse begins 13 days before the Chinese New Year
By Yvette Tan
Published Feb 17, 2026 09:54 am
A horse display is seen at a mall in Lucky Chinatown in Manila on Sunday, Feb. 8, symbolizing the Year of the Horse in 2026, which is believed to bring energy, progress, and good fortune. (John Louie Abrina)
Did you know that the start of the Chinese zodiac doesn’t necessarily correspond to the Lunar New Year?
“The Year of the Horse starts on Feb. 4, 13 days before the Chinese New Year,” said Master Nixon Co, feng shui expert and representative of the San Fernando Four Kings Mansion temple in Binondo. “The change in the zodiac usually comes with the beginning of spring. The moment spring starts, the zodiac automatically changes along with it, unlike in the Gregorian calendar, where you have to wait for the last day.”
This means that children born on Feb. 4, 2026, from 4:01.51 p.m. onwards are automatically Fire Horse babies. Businessmen who are concerned about feng shui should keep this in mind as well. Co notes that this will not interfere with Chinese New Year celebrations.
When asked for tips on how to celebrate Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 17, 2026, Nixon said: “Celebrating Chinese New Year, for me personally, is just a reunion and celebration between family members.”
He added that while there are many traditional ways of celebrating the occasion, such as displaying eggs, gold chocolate coins, or round fruit. “I seldom ask people to [lay out] eggs, money, gold coins; it’s just ornamentally useful, like Christmas trees. I don’t believe it helps a lot in whatever it is that is going to happen to us in the next year to come.”
A shop displays a variety of lucky charms and other ornaments on Tuesday, February 10, as the Chinese community in Davao City prepares for the Chinese New Year celebration next week. (Keith Bacongco)
Ultimately, it depends on what makes them feel happy and lucky, and gets them into a festive mood. “Whatever it is you feel that would make you happy or make your house colorful, abundant, [and] harmonious, you can apply that,” he said. “If they feel it’s going to be lucky for them by following those traditions, then they may do so. [Conversely,] some people who do not follow those practices usually do not have any problems with the new year.”
Since Nixon is affiliated with a temple, he suggests that those who practice should visit their respective temples for a blessing. “For other religions, it’s like hearing mass during Christmas,” he said. “It’s more about whatever works for you and brings you peace of mind.”
Workers install Chinese lanterns along Narra Street in Manila on Tuesday, Feb.10, in preparation for the Lunar New Year. (John Louie Abrina)
He adds that there are no strict rules about how cultural practices like the Lunar New Year are celebrated because, “Each province in China has its own ways of celebrating; each has its own norms and traditions to follow. It’s best to do what works for you because what works for you might not work for someone else from another place or province.”