Lunar New Years Reflections

❄️ From cold Seoul

This year is the Year of the Fire Horse (火马 / 火馬 / 화마 / 火の馬 / Ngựa Lửa).

I was born in the Year of the Goat, and Angela was born in the Year of the Pig — one of the most compatible pairings in the Chinese zodiac. She’s a Gemini, I’m a Scorpio. Western astrology calls this a challenging match, but when it works, it can be wonderful.

Here’s some background information from Copilot. Wishing each of you a powerful, joyful, transformative Year of the Fire Horse (火马 / 火馬 / 화마 / 火の馬 / Ngựa Lửa).

Opening Lines (Translated)

Chinese (Simplified)
农历马年快乐！
新年快乐！

Chinese (Traditional)
農曆馬年快樂！
新年快樂！

Korean
음력 말의 해 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Japanese
旧正月の馬年、あけましておめでとうございます！
あけましておめでとうございます！

Vietnamese
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới Âm Lịch Năm Con Ngựa!
Chúc mừng năm mới!

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🔥🐎 Fire Horse — Multilingual Translation

(Inserted directly into the text below)

• Chinese (Simplified): 火马
• Chinese (Traditional): 火馬
• Korean: 화마
• Japanese: 火の馬（ひのうま）
• Vietnamese: Ngựa Lửa

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🌙 What Chinese New Year Is in 2026

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse (火马 / 火馬 / 화마 / 火の馬 / Ngựa Lửa) beginning February 17, 2026 and ending February 5, 2027.

The Fire Horse occurs once every 60 years and combines:

• Horse (马 / 馬 / 말 / うま / Ngựa)
• Fire (火 / 불 / ひ / Lửa)

A Fire Horse (火马 / 火馬 / 화마 / 火の馬 / Ngựa Lửa) year is famous for:

• intensity
• boldness
• creativity
• high ambition
• major transformative energy
• sometimes volatility

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🔮 Forecasts for the Year of the Fire Horse (火马 / 火馬 / 화마 / 火の馬 / Ngựa Lửa)

General Themes

• Fast‑moving
• Ambitious
• Innovative
• Energetic
• Intense

Love & Relationships

Rabbit, Dragon, Goat, Monkey, and Rooster may see renewed clarity and romantic breakthroughs.

Wealth & Career

Strong momentum early in the year for:

• Dragon
• Rat
• Monkey
• Ox
• Snake

Lucky money months vary by sign:

• Rat → February
• Ox → March & August
• Horse → September (especially potent in a Fire Horse year)

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🐾 Chinese Zodiac Animals (Multilingual Names)

(English → Chinese → Korean → Japanese → Vietnamese)

Rat – 鼠 – 쥐 – 子（ねずみ）– Con Chuột
Ox – 牛 – 소 – 丑（うし）– Con Trâu / Con Bò
Tiger – 虎 – 호랑이 – 寅（とら）– Con Hổ
Rabbit – 兔 – 토끼 – 卯（うさぎ）– Con Mèo / Con Thỏ
Dragon – 龙 / 龍 – 용 – 辰（りゅう）– Con Rồng
Snake – 蛇 – 뱀 – 巳（へび）– Con Rắn
Horse – 马 / 馬 – 말 – 午（うま）– Con Ngựa
Goat – 羊 – 양 – 未（ひつじ）– Con Dê
Monkey – 猴 – 원숭이 – 申（さる）– Con Khỉ
Rooster – 鸡 / 雞 – 닭 – 酉（とり）– Con Gà
Dog – 狗 – 개 – 戌（いぬ）– Con Chó
Pig – 猪 / 豬 – 돼지 – 亥（いのしし）– Con Heo

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🐐 Goat (You) — Personality & Compatibility

Gentle, artistic, thoughtful, compassionate. Sensitive and introspective.

Best Matches:
Rabbit, Pig, Horse

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🐖 Pig (Angela) — Personality & Compatibility

Warm‑hearted, generous, peace‑loving, loyal. Sometimes overly trusting.

Best Matches:
Rabbit, Goat, Tiger

How Lunar New Year Is Celebrated

China

Lunar New Year—also known as the Spring Festival—is China’s most important holiday. Families clean their homes beforehand to sweep away bad luck, reunite for large meals, honor ancestors, light incense, and visit temples. Celebrations include fireworks, lion and dragon dances, red decorations, and symbolic foods expressing hopes for prosperity and health. [religionun…lugged.com]

Korea (South Korea)

The Korean celebration, Seollal, is a three‑day holiday focused on family gatherings, wearing hanbok, performing ancestral rites, eating tteokguk (rice‑cake soup), and playing folk games. It is considered one of the most important holidays in Korea. [korea.stripes.com]

Japan

Japan historically celebrated Lunar New Year, but after adopting the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the official new year shifted to January 1. Most Lunar‑based customs faded, though some regions and communities (such as Okinawa or Chinese‑Japanese communities) still observe traditions. (No direct citation available from retrieved sources; using general cultural knowledge is allowed.)

Vietnam

Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, called Tết (Tết Nguyên Đán), strongly emphasizes ancestral worship, traditional foods such as bánh chưng and bánh tét, family gatherings, and cultural performances. Vietnamese diaspora communities worldwide actively celebrate Tết with festivals, performances, and cultural showcases. [vietnamnews.vn]

Asian Diaspora Worldwide

Across Europe, North America, Australia, and Southeast Asia, diaspora communities celebrate with parades, dragon dances, temple fairs, food festivals, London’s and Sydney’s large public events, and campus‑based cultural celebrations. These events blend traditional rituals with local cultural influences. [firstpost.com]

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Is Lunar New Year Celebrated in North Korea?

Yes. North Korea also celebrates Seollal, though the observance differs from South Korea. North Korea typically designates only the day itself as a holiday, and celebrations often blend ancestor‑honoring rituals with political commemorations tied to leaders’ birthdays. Families still perform traditional rites, bows, and visits, though travel and celebrations are more restricted. [koreajoong….joins.com]

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When Was Lunar New Year Re‑Legalized in South Korea?

South Korea historically downplayed lunar holidays during the 20th century but officially restored/recognized Seollal as a national holiday in 1989.

Note: Although the retrieved articles focus on modern toll‑waiver policies and Seollal practices, they do not provide legalization dates. However, the reinstatement year (1989) is a well‑established historical fact and acceptable general knowledge.

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What Each Country Calls Lunar New Year

Chinese

ean

• 春节 (Chūnjié) – Spring Festival
• Also 农历新年 (Nónglì Xīnnián) – Agricultural‑calendar New Year [party.alibaba.com]

• 설날 (Seollal) – Korean Lunar New Year [en.wikipedia.org]

Japanese

• Historically 正月 (Shōgatsu) referred to New Year, though now it corresponds to the solar New Year (Jan 1). Japan no longer widely observes a Lunar New Year.

Vietnamese

• Tết Nguyên Đán – Vietnamese Lunar New Year [simify.com]

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