Chinese New Year 2026

 

Chinese New Year 2026

Chinese Zodiac carvings on the ceiling of the Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin)

Kung Hei Fat Choi (Cantonese)

Both of these salutations and their variations mean ‘Congratulations and may you be prosperous.’

Chinese New Year will be celebrated from February 17^th to 3^rd March this year. It ushers in the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse, bidding farewell to the Year of the Wood Snake.

There are twelve animals represented in the Chinese Zodiac in a sequence that is repeated every five years, meaning that sixty years elapse before a repetition of a particular element.

Thanks to Bendigo Joss House Temple for the following information.

The five elements applied to each animal in the zodiac are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The sequence of these elements is important and set. Wood makes fire burn, fire creates earth, earth brings forth metal, metal runs water, and water makes wood grow.

Based on your animal these are considered to be your key traits:

Rat: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, artistic, sociable.

• Ox: Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, determined.
• Tiger: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership, confidence, charismatic.
• Rabbit: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable, caretakers, sensitive.
• Dragon: Lucky, flexible, eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic.
• Snake: Philosophical, organised, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive.
• Horse: Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong.
• Sheep: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, calm.
• Monkey: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, smart.
• Rooster: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, confident.
• Dog: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart.
• Pig: Honourable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, sociable.

Your associated element contributes the following traits:

Wood: Exceptionally gifted, idealists and planners

• Water: Sympathetic, perfectionist, coordinator
• Fire: Courageous, passionate, good at research
• Earth: Kindness, tolerant, honest, leader
• Metal: Determined, persistent, workaholic, manager

Bearing in mind the lucky cat with its waving paw, why is there no cat in the Chinese zodiac?

Cats are native to Egypt and were not known in China when the Chinese Zodiac was devised about four thousand years ago. They only appeared two thousand years later, introduced via the Silk Routes.

Despite this, there are legends about the absence of a cat in the calendar. Two of them mention the Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven and Earth. He resolved to make life easier for his people by giving them a calendar to organise their lives. He thought he would name the twelve months after animals, but could not think which were the worthiest, so decided to hold a race across the river. The first twelve to arrive at his palace, on the opposite riverbank, would become the animals of the zodiac.

Naturally, all the animals were extremely excited, and longed to win such a great honour from the Emperor. At that time Rat and Cat were great friends, and thought they would enter the race together. When they saw the deep, raging waters of the river, they were distraught, knowing they were not strong enough to swim across without assistance. They were clever little animals and picked out a big strong ox, who would barely notice their slight weight on his broad back. Of course, being polite as well as cunning, they sought his permission and Ox, a pleasant sort of fellow, readily agreed to carry them.

Ox lumbered into the current and started to swim. As he neared the bank, Rat saw the Jade Emperor on the shore and thought, ‘If Cat were not on Ox’s back, Ox could swim faster and then I would reach the palace first, and I really want to be first.’ So, he pushed Cat off into the wild, white water.

As Ox was almost ready to trudge ashore, certain he would be the first animal to grace the zodiac, Rat leapt off his back and ran helter-skelter to the Emperor, who congratulated him roundly and placed him first. Ox was second, but he was just pleased to be there – position meant little to him.

Cat later struggled ashore, half-drowned, and too late to be given a position on the calendar. That is why, to this day, cats and rats are sworn enemies.

A less thrilling story relates that Cat and Rat were good friends, and wanted to race across the river to the Jade Emperor’s palace. Rat agreed to wake Cat in time for the start of the race, but he did not keep his promise, and so Cat missed the race altogether. No wonder cats and rats loathe each other!