The Fire Horse rides in: what the Lunar New Year tells us about energy, change and tradition

Every Lunar New Year marks a renewal, but the Fire Horse holds a special place in the zodiac. It last appeared sixty years ago, in 1966 – a rare fusion of the Horse’s boundless energy with Fire’s intensity and brilliance.

In Chinese astrology, that combination signals passion, courage, and a drive for change.

“Each zodiac year reflects a different animal and its personality traits, also how people think about balance and renewal,” says Dr Fan Shengyu from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language.

“The Fire Horse symbolises independence and transformation – but also reminds us that great energy needs wise direction. In other words, always think before you leap.”

Understanding the Fire Horse

In the traditional Chinese cycle, the Horse embodies motion, freedom, and ambition. It is spirited and forward-looking – a creature that charges into the unknown.

When paired with the Fire element, those traits burn brighter. This is a year associated with creativity, risk-taking, and the pursuit of progress.

Historically, Fire Horse years have been seen as turning points, sparking innovation and social momentum. That fiery temperament, however, can also invite unpredictability – a reminder that growth often arrives through challenge.

“In East Asian thought, the zodiac is not simply fortune-telling,” explains Dr Eve Chen from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language.

“It’s a cultural metaphor for how communities anticipate and embrace change – a poetic way of understanding the year’s rhythm.”

Celebrating across the region

The Lunar New Year – celebrated as Chūnjié in China, Tết in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea – is the most widely observed festival across Asia and its diasporas. Each culture adds its own local colour to the shared spirit of renewal.

In China, families gather for reunion dinners, exchange red envelopes (hongbao), and greet one another with wishes for prosperity.

In Vietnam, streets bloom with kumquat trees and peach blossoms.

In Korea, bowing ceremonies honour ancestors,while in Australia, multicultural communities mark the occasion with lantern festivals, music, and lion dances.

“What’s remarkable about the Lunar New Year is that it’s both deeply traditional and endlessly adaptable,” says Dr Yun Zhou, also from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language.

“Across the region, it remains a living expression of cultural continuity.”

Wishing you a happy neigh year

Language too plays a role in celebration. Common greetings in Mandarin include 新春快乐 (xīn chūn  kuài lè, “Happy Lunar New Year”) and 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, “Wishing you prosperity”).

But the Horse inspires its own phrase, 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng), meaning “May success arrive as swiftly as a galloping horse.”

These idioms reveal how language captures shared values of determination, vitality, and optimism – qualities the Fire Horse embodies in abundance.

Galloping forward

As 2026 approaches, the Fire Horse reminds us to keep moving – with boldness, creativity, and compassion. It is a symbol of momentum: the courage to begin anew, the curiosity to explore, and the wisdom to channel passion into purpose.

In a year that promises energy and transformation, the Fire Horse rides in not just as a zodiac sign, but as an invitation to stride forward together into what’s next.