Tuesday, February 17, 2026 marks a brand new year in the lunar calendar, also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year. The starting date of Lunar New Year changes each year, usually falling on a day between January 21 – February 20. The lunar calendar begins with the first new moon of the year and ends with a full moon. Filled with traditions and rituals, Lunar New Year is the most important and celebrated holiday in the Chinese calendar. For two weeks, business life just about comes to a halt, while the focus shifts to family, and traditions center around bringing good luck and long life.

In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is represented by the combination of an animal sign (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig) and one of the five elements in Nature (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth). The animal signs repeat in a 12-year cyclical pattern and are assigned based on a person’s date of birth. The essence and spirit of our lunar signs help us tune in to certain aspects of our personalities.

Read this post to find your animal sign and learn your fortune in the Year of the Fire Horse.

Transition from the Year of the Wood Snake

Every animal sign in the zodiac is connected, and therefore, one influences the other. As a creative and transformative leader, Snake provided every animal sign the ability to see what was holding them back and the opportunity to shed patterns that no longer fit. Snake also helped them exercise flexibility in how they move, think, interact with, and respond to others. As wise, flexible, and determined Snake hands its reins to the enigmatic, impulsive, and fearless Horse, all signs can now grab hold of what ignites them from deep within and use that passion to allow their Spirit to run free.

In addition, Horse will be inspired and backed by Snake’s guiding presence throughout the year. With its ability to shed its skin and start anew, Snake provides Horse, and therefore each animal sign, the added flexibility to create new opportunities for the coming year.

Fire Element and Heart System

The Horse is the seventh animal sign in the lunar calendar. This year’s element is Fire, which signals passion and excitement, and energetically relates to Heart energy. The Heart is the central processing point for your consciousness, emotions, and Spirit (Shen). The Heart thrives when peaceful and practicing unconditional love. Your whole being relies on balanced Heart Qi. Considered the king of all organs, all other organs will sacrifice, or give their energy, to help the Heart maintain its balance. Energetically, your Heart receives and relays countless messages between the organs. If your Heart is not peaceful, its function will be affected, which, in turn, will impact the whole.

Chinese medicine is a study of interrelationships. Heart health depends on the balance of your digestive organs, Stomach and Liver. The Stomach is the “child” of the Heart.  If the Stomach is functioning well, the Heart is happy or less impacted. Stomach energy must be in balance for Heart energy to be balanced. The Liver is the “mother” of the Heart. One of its functions is to smooth and regulate emotions. When a person is under continual stress, Liver energy becomes compromised. When that stress becomes chronic, the Liver cannot properly support the Heart.

Horse Spirit

The Year of the Fire Horse provides a Yin/Yang perspective by marrying Heart’s peacefulness with Horse’s drive and Fire’s passion.

Get ready for a powerful energy shift! Guided by Fire Horse energy, this year invites you to move with courage, passion, and emotional clarity—running toward what inspires you while leaving hesitation behind.

Fire Horse’s Influence

People born in the Year of the Horse (1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026) are driven, lively, independent, honest, and exuberant. They enjoy their freedom and look for unique forms of self-expression. Cheerful and skilled with money, Horses are popular and generally perceptive. However, they are also impatient and hot-blooded, and often disregard advice from others.

The Fire element, paired with Horse’s natural drive, can sometimes push energy too far. Finding time for quiet reflection gives the Heart space to renew and allows emotions and intentions to be expressed with clarity. In the background, Snake’s mentorship merges with the Spirit of Fire to continue to clear what’s been weighing you down—old emotions, stuck patterns, and lingering challenges—until you are ready to follow Horse’s pursuit of freedom.

As Fire Horse takes the lead, those animal signs willing to trust their instincts, shift perspective, and move in alignment with what ignites their Spirit will experience life with renewed confidence, openness, and momentum.

Have Fun With Lunar New Year!

Understand the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Try some of these lucky foods! Including our favorite—dumplings!

Read about the Great Race, an ancient fable that explains how the Chinese zodiac was created.

What does your sign say about you? Learn your fortune in the Year of the Fire Horse!