Lunar New Year 2026: Fire Horse Celebrations Around the World | Firstpost Live

And for our final story, the Year of the Horse is officially here. Hundreds of millions of people across the world are celebrating the first day of the Lunar New Year, kicking off the Spring Festival. The Year of the Horse, with 2026 being a Fire Horse year, symbolises high energy, rapid change and forward movement in the Chinese zodiac. It is the seventh animal of the 12-year cycle and follows the more introspective Year of the Snake. The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China and other East Asian countries with Chinese communities. In Hong Kong, crowds gathered to light and plant incense sticks, making wishes for the Lunar New Year. Earlier in the day, flower markets were flooded with people and red-coloured petals are in high demand. It's all about celebrating the Lunar New Year. Having red and purple flowers can bring prosperity. But it isn't just China where crowds galloped into the Lunar New Year. From Asia to Europe and South America, lights, lanterns and fireworks have filled the skies. In Vietnam, as the clock struck midnight, bright colours filled the skies across the country. Crowds enjoyed the occasion with performances and celebrations. Snow fell in Moscow as Lunar New Year festivities kicked off ahead of Tuesday. People braved the conditions to experience grand decorations, lanterns and food stalls. A spokesperson of Russia's foreign ministry highlighted the growing popularity of the festival. Another tradition has emerged in Moscow, offering its beautiful, joyful venue for Chinese traditions, Chinese art and Chinese performances for two weeks a year. This is the third time this festival has been held in Moscow and not only will it be a success, each time we see an increasing number of people coming from Moscow and from across the Russian regions. And in Argentina, huge crowds lined the streets. Dance performers and a dragon puppet were part of the spectacle in Buenos Aires. People with Chinese lineage were among those taking part in the festivities. The horse arrives and brings success, and believe it or not, we have been working with that energy for a month for this event. I was born here, but we found our teacher Jessie, and she passed on all this culture to us, all this dance, the music, the different musical elements, and we are very fortunate and very happy. The same goes for my parents, who are very happy that I can learn about this culture while being in another country. Now, the Lunar New Year is not just about celebrations. The birth year of newborns is determined by the 12-year lunar calendar cycle. And in Chinese culture, the zodiac sign for your birth year is believed to influence personality and fortunes throughout your life. In Shanghai, the first baby of this Lunar New Year was celebrated by the family and midwives. My wife's water broke at midnight on New Year's Eve. At that moment, I didn't know if our baby would be born at the end of the Year of the Snake or the start of the Year of the Horse, but I was incredibly excited. As we bid farewell to the Year of the Snake and welcome the Year of the Horse, I am overjoyed to welcome this precious baby born at the moment the Chinese New Year arrived. I wish the family all the best, and may the little one grow up strong and healthy, just like a lively little pony. As the festivities continue across the world, China is set for an extremely busy period. More than two weeks of celebrations, which could extend to beyond a month, will bring pressure on transport routes. But as hundreds of millions of people spend time with their loved ones, disruption and delays are merely an afterthought. Food, festivities and family are at the forefront, as the Year of the Fire Horse brings warmth and hope across the world. This is not just about who died. It's about what followed. Governments fell. Armies moved. History rewrote itself.