Horses symbolize multiple characteristics
Feb. 17 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, which correlates to the first new moon of the lunar calendar.
And in the Chinese zodiac, which follows a lunar calendar, this is the year of an animal related to ag.
2026 is the year of the horse.
And what makes this year particularly special is it’s the year of the fire horse – this only occurs every 60 years.
Horses are celebrated in Chinese culture in part for their connections to agriculture, helping farmers transport goods and increase production.
A Chinese proverb, for example, says that when horses arrive, success follows.
Before the invention of the tractor, farmers used horses as their primary power source to pull plows, harrows, and other implements.
In 1871, the first Canadian census following Confederation in 1867, for example, Ontario alone reported more than 368,000 working horses.
Horses are viewed as symbols of strength, loyalty, and freedom.
People born in the year of the horse are believed to have these traits too.
And combining those traits with the element of fire could bring additional opportunities in 2026.
“This means that there will be many opportunities for growth, so individuals are encouraged to push forward with personal goals, embrace change, and endure the process for the ultimate reward,” Jonathan H. X. Lee, an Asian studies professor at San Francisco State University, told National Geographic.
Many influential people were born in a year of the horse.
They include Paul McCartney, Thomas Edison, Catherine O’Hara, and Janis Joplin.
People born under the year of the horse are advised to avoid people born in the year of the rat, ox, and rabbit.
This is because of their meticulous and cautious natures, which goes against a horse’s free spirit.
A horse is compatible with tigers and dogs, though. The bond with a tiger is based on respect for independence while a dog’s stability helps balance a horse’s energy.
Two and seven are considered as lucky numbers. Red, pink, and purple are viewed as lucky colors, and the lucky direction is southeast.
How did horses end up on the Chinese zodiac anyway?
The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals which also includes the goat, pig, dragon, rooster, and rabbit.
According to Chinese folklore, the Jade Emperor decided a way to measure time was necessary.
He held a swimming race, and the first 12 animals to cross a river would each have a year of the zodiac named after them based on the order they finished.
The horse finished in seventh after the snake scared the horse and finished sixth.
The official results are as follows:
1. Rat
2. Ox
3. Tiger
4. Rabbit
5. Dragon
6. Snake
7. Horse
8. Goat
9. Monkey
10. Rooster
11. Dog
12. Pig
Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days.
The midpoint of the celebrations is for farmers.
“The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion," the University of Victoria says.