Written by Dorian, Belmont Library
According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, Lunar New Year is coming up on February 17, 2026. Join San Mateo County Libraries in celebrating all month!
Lunar New Year Events
Celebrate with us at these vibrant dance performances:
If you’re looking for some engaging activities for the New Year, check out these offerings for adults:
Explore these crafts for little ones and teens:
Visit our Events Calendar for a full list of our Lunar New Year festivities!
Book Lists for Lunar New Year
Our library staff have curated book lists for Lunar New Year:
Explore all of our recommended reads for Lunar New Year.
Learn About Lunar New Year
In January, we welcomed the new year according to the Gregorian calendar. But did you know that many cultures track time using different calendars? While the Gregorian calendar counts time by the sun, people across the globe track time using the phases of the moon. Certain Asian countries, including China, Korea and Vietnam, base their traditional calendars on both the moon and sun.
Those who observe Lunar New Year utilize a zodiac that differs from that of western astrology, with signs in a cycle of twelve years rather than twelve months. A Chinese folktale that accompanies these signs tells of the Jade Emperor inviting a group of animals to race for their position in the zodiac. The rat, with the help of the ox, won the race. The tiger, with its great strength, arrived third. The nimble rabbit came after, followed by the benevolent dragon. The horse, almost coming in at the sixth position, was scared off by the snake, pushing it to the seventh. The goat, monkey and rooster worked together to place eighth, ninth and tenth. The playful dog was distracted by the river waters before the heavenly gate, leaving him in eleventh place. Finally, the pig woke up from a post-snack nap and ended the race. As we’re in the seventh year of the zodiac cycle, this year will celebrate the year of the horse!
While the animals of the Chinese lunisolar calendar are cycling in twelve-year periods, a larger circuit runs sixty years concurrently. Not only does this sexagenary cycle aid in recording years and dates, it assigns differing yin and yang qualities to the zodiac. This year, we find ourselves in the 43rd year of the cycle, the year of the Yang Fire Horse. Similarly, next year will also have Yang properties. This two-year sequence is referred to as the “Red Horse Red Sheep Calamity, opens a new window,” and is a site of superstition for some. Historically, Yang Horse years have brought chaos, change and opportunity. The last year of the Fire Horse was 1966, the year Mao Zedong sparked the Cultural Revolution. While 1966 brought about certain tragedies, great strides were also being made. 1966 also saw advances in technology, with the Gemini IX and Luna 9 missions teaching us more about space travel.
Those born in the year of the horse are said to embody intellect, bravery and determination. Their zodiac reading this year points towards a period of transformation. While change can be scary, it will also be tempered by a little good luck!
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