The 2026 Lunar New Year

By Kelly Tran

Feb. 17 marked the Lunar New Year for many East and Southeast Asian countries, including China, Korea, and Vietnam. Every Lunar New Year comes with a new animal zodiac it represents, rotating between 12 different zodiacs. This year, it is the year of the horse.

The horse is the seventh zodiac in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese calendar. It symbolizes freedom and independence, trying to break free from constraints, as well as strength and endurance, reflecting the ability to overcome obstacles with determination.

The holiday typically lasts 15 days, from the first new moon of the Lunar calendar to the first full moon. The first day of the celebration starts with a big feast and large family gatherings that feature bags of fruit and lucky red envelopes with money. Many people during this period wear red to ward off evil spirits, based on an old Chinese legend, as well as attract good luck for the rest of the year. The last day of the holiday, scheduled for March 3 this year, signifies the night of the Lantern Festival, where people release lanterns in the sky to send a wish. 

As a Vietnamese-American, I celebrate Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, with a big family gathering, exchanging li xi (red envelopes), eating banh tet (a cylindrical sticky rice cake), and thit kho (braised pork belly and hard-boiled eggs). We visit our Buddhist temple every year, watch mua lan (lion dancing), decorate our houses with hoa mai trees (Ochoa blossoms), and make ngu qua (fruit trays) as an offering to our ancestors.

In the D.C., Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area, Eden Center is a very popular destination for this celebration. Every year, Eden can be seen completely packed, with little to no parking and no room to walk on sidewalks. Firecrackers, bells, gongs, and really any other loud instrument can be heard, making as much noise as possible to ward off evil spirits. 

Other popular events in the area are DC’s Chinatown Culture Walk, Lion Dances, and an annual parade hosted on Feb. 22. Also in DC, the National Museum of Asian Art is a popular spot to watch the Smithsonian’s programming for the holiday, with the addition of food, lion dances, and museum tours.