The Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17th, 2026, bringing vibrant energy that encourages fresh starts and forward thinking. To enjoy the best of what the year has to offer, start observing these traditions and rituals as early as a month before the new moon appears.
THINGS TO DO BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR
1. Spring clean your home
This is the best time to give your home an energetic reset – buy new clothes, repair or replace things in your home that don’t work anymore, and throw out old “rubbish” like newspapers, magazines, books, bags, broken containers and tattered clothes. Damaged cutlery like plates, cups, bowls and serving dishes should be disposed of as well. Make sure all walkways and surfaces are clutter-free for a smooth flow of chi.
It is customary to give your home a good spring clean. Wipe behind and under cupboards, cabinets, refrigerators, washing machines and so on to remove stagnant chi and to give space for new luck to flow in. Decorate the main door of your home with red lanterns and auspicious sonnets written on red paper to boost the auspicious energies further.
Because Chinese New Year occurs after the Lap Chun, the year is said to lack growth chi. To ensure there are new opportunities to expand and accumulate wealth, bring fruiting lime trees and flowering plants into your home, or get the Lap Chun Wealth Tree. If possible, you should also invite in some new furniture.
2. Make Repairs
Check your home for any defects as everything should work well prior to Chinese New Year. Mend cracked walls and broken doorways. As leaking water implies loss of wealth and health, it is important to fix all leaking taps and pipes. Anything that affects the kitchen or dining area can have a nasty impact on your rice bowl. The area around the main door of your home and bedroom should also be checked for signs of wear and tear.
TIP: Give your home a fresh coat of paint to symbolise starting with a clean slate and to attract new opportunities.
3. Clean and restock your kitchen
Entering the New Year with a fully stocked kitchen is considered extremely auspicious. Start by clearing your pantry and refrigerator of food that has expired. Then restock with enough food and drinks to last the 15 days of Chinese New Year.
This is also when you should clean out your rice urn. Empty the urn, wash and dry it. Once dry, place a red packet with 3 dynasty coins tied with red string at its base and refill to the brim with new rice. Keep your rice urn at least three quarters full throughout the entire 15 days of Chinese New Year.
4. Update the Feng Shui of your home
Have all your cures and enhancers in place by February 4th 2026, which is when the annual stars move to their new locations and start exerting their full effects. REMEMBER, IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO USE NEW CURES! Remedies work by absorbing bad energies from the past year, so it is best to install new cures for the new year. Each sector of the home will be affected differently in the new year depending on where the new annual flying stars of the year settle.
Take note of our articles on the FLYING STAR CHART OF 2026 and the 24 MOUNTAINS CHART of 2026 to take note of the important sectors to remedy, and the sectors hosting auspicious stars which you should activate for great good fortune.
5. Cleanse the energy of your home
- Open all doors and windows to allow air to circulate freely. Switch on all the lights.
- Light some Sandalwood Incense with Kemenyen, plus 1 tablespoon of Spirit Incense Powder in the Wealth Incense Holder.
- Chant “NAMA SARVA TATHAGATA AVALOKITE OM SAMBHARA SAMBHARA HUM” while walking around each room 7 times in a clockwise direction. Visualise the negative energy coming off your walls.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR THE FIRST 15 DAYS OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
Eve of Chinese New Year (16th February 2026)
Prepare a welcome tray of togetherness. This is a special box filled with an assortment of sweets, biscuits, melon seed, candies and oranges, for anyone who might drop by during the 15 days of New Year.
The family should come together for a REUNION DINNER, which typically has a minimum of 8 dishes, comprising the following ingredients, because of their symbolic meanings:
- Luo Han Zhai (Buddha’s delight) – A vegetarian dish made with “Fat Choy” (a type of black hair fungus to symbolise prosperity), bamboo shoots (for wealth), day lily bulbs (Kan Cham Ku – means golden needles), “Napa Cabbage” (Pao Choy – for guaranteed success) and other assorted vegetables. This dish symbolises family togetherness and good karma.
- A Fish Dish – Usually steamed fish, as fish carries the meaning of Lin Lin Yao Yue – “May your year be filled with an abundance of good fortune.”
- A Chicken or Duck Dish – A chicken dish indicates happiness and a happy marriage, while having duck means marital fidelity and good children.
- Big Prawns or better still a Lobster– This carries the meaning of “Ha Ha Tai Siew” so there is always joy and laughter in your home.
- Abalone, Scallops, Clams and Dried Oysters – Indicates good profits in business.
- Braised Pork with Sticky Rice – For family unity, and for the family to stay close and together.
- Long Life Noodles – For longevity and good health for all the family.
- A Sweet Dessert– made with peanuts or red bean paste served with simple dumplings called “Jiaozi” to symbolise all family members having great success in all endeavours. Fruits such as pomelo, grapes and oranges should also be served.
TABOOS OF THE DAY:
- No sweeping of the floor after 10.00 pm.
- Avoid getting angry or raising your voice at others.
- Avoid using vulgarities or insulting others.
- Avoid saying anything negative or crying.
- A plate of charcoal and plate of golden garlic is a must have for your home altar on this day. Charcoal represents support for your business; golden garlic represents plenty of business opportunities.
- All the lights in your home should be switched on before sundown, and all windows should be opened. After reunion dinner, it is important that the family spend time together, and be united (if possible, until the stroke of midnight.) Members of the family should greet each other with auspicious greetings and good luck wishes. You should also keep the main door open to greet in the first rays of New Year
- Firecrackers are traditionally set off at midnight to welcome in the New Year, with as much noise as possible to scare away bad luck, and to create plenty of energetic and prosperous chi.
- Prayers to the God of Wealth and Happiness should be performed thereafter, and after the prayers are done, a new Wealth Lock Coin should be placed on the altar table as well as underneath the pillows of each member of the family.
DOOR DIRECTIONS TO TAKE NOTE OF :
Take note of your door directions during the 1st Day of Chinese New Year (17th February 2026) (Try not to use doors facing a bad direction.) It is auspicious to welcome in the God of Wealth and Happiness on the 1st Day of Chinese New Year coming from the South direction.
| LUCKY DIRECTIONS God of Wealth: South God of Mentors & Noblemen: East God of Happiness: South |
UNLUCKY DIRECTIONS 5 Ghost: Southeast Death Door: North |
1st Day of Chinese New Year (Tuesday, 17th Feb 2026)
Wake up early today. Preferably before sunrise. Have a bath, put on new clothes (make sure that you wear something red), wish your family members a happy Chinese New Year and offer each of your elders a cup of sweet tea. This practice ensures that relationships with family members will always be on good terms and you only hear good news from their lips for the whole year.
8 Treasures Sweet Tea
Ingredients:
- 50 grams sweet dry winter melon
- 3 pieces dried Kum Kuats
- 50 grams dried Longan
- 3 pieces Lo Hon Ko
- 8 pieces Red Dates
- 8 pieces Black Dates
- 8 pieces Lin Jee
- 50 grams Pak Hap
- 8 glasses of water
Directions:
Boil all the ingredients for 10 minutes on medium heat. Strain, cool and serve.
Taboo of the day – Do not get angry, do not cry and do not sweep the floor.
It is best to be vegetarian today (At least until the hour of the Sheep 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm). A good day to visit the temple and offer up prayers.
Married couples should give red packets to younger unmarried people that they meet today. Many people observe this practice for all 15 days of the New Year. It is believed that the more red packets you give out, the more money you will receive through the year.
As this day falls on the Day of the Dog, those born in years of the Dog and Dragon must avoid eating meat for the day.
2nd Day of Chinese New Year (Wednesday, 18th Feb 2026)
This day is known as ‘Hoi Nian’. On this day, it is beneficial for businessmen to make offerings at their home altar. Place a grass carp with its head wrapped in red paper, 2 pieces of lime and a bunch of fresh lettuce (Shang Choi) on the right side of the altar. This carries the meaning of Tai Kat Tai Ley for a smooth year with a continuous growth of wealth.
It is also customary to offer visiting friends and business partners a slice of steamed “Lian Kou” coated with grated coconut to symbolize maintaining a strong relationship.
Today is a good day to pay respects to your ancestors. Also traditionally a day when married children visit their paternal parents.
3rd Day of Chinese New Year (Thursday, 19th Feb 2026)
Today is the Birthday of the Argument God (Chi Gou – God of Blazing Wrath). If you go out today, you are likely to get into an argument or fight. Those born in years of the Rat, Rabbit, Rooster and Horse should stay home to avoid getting into trouble. Place Ksiddigarbha’s Fireball and Staff in your living room for harmony between family members.
Make generous offerings on your altar today. Suitable items include green bananas, dried mushrooms, spring onions, white cabbage, garlic bulbs, pineapples, peanuts, apples, pears, oranges, apricots, plums, flowers and candy.
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4th Day of Chinese New Year (Friday, 20th Feb 2026)
An excellent day to do prayers for your children. Taoists pray to Lord Wen Chang aka Wen Chang Di Jun, one of the 5 deities that take care of all academic issues. Hang the Pagoda with Scholastic Amulet on your child’s schoolbag.
5th Day of Chinese New Year (Saturday, 21st Feb 2026)
A good day to perform good deeds and to make prayers at the temple. For business owners, it is an auspicious day to have a Lion Dance at your business premises, along with prosperity rituals such as the “rolling in of mandarin oranges”. You should also perform the ritual for inviting in the God of Wealth and General Kuan Kung at the same time.
6th day of Chinese New Year (Sunday, 22nd Feb 2026)
A good day for the Rabbit and for celebrations, gambling and buying the lottery. Avoid drinking to excess on this day.
7th day of Chinese New Year (Monday, 23rd Feb 2026)
Today is ‘Ren Re’ or everybody’s birthday. A good day for feasting and eating ‘Yee Sang’ with friends, business partners and clients. A lucky day for those born in Rooster and Snake years.
For Buddhists, this is another vegetarian day. A traditional dish served today, known as “Guo Choi”, consists 7 kinds of vegetables in one bowl – green peas, celery, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, grapes and chives. This dish represents always having an abundance of food to eat.
8th day of Chinese New Year (Tuesday, 24th Feb2026)
Today is a good day to pray to the God of Heaven. Homes with main doors facing West, Northeast or South are especially lucky today and should invite friends over to celebrate. It is not a good day for the Boar.
9th day of Chinese New Year (Wednesday, 25th Feb 2026)
Today is the Birthday of the Jade Emperor and is especially important for people of Hokkien origin. Typical altar offerings on the midnight of the 8th day (Rat Hour) include a pair of sugar canes, joss sticks, 7 cups of chinese tea, 7 cups of rice wine, 7 plates of fresh fruits, a roast pig, 2 bouquets of flowers, and joss gold paper folded in the shape of an ingot or pineapple for burning as offerings.
If the morning of the 9th day is sunny with clear skies, it indicates a year of big profits, while a day of cloudy skies and rain suggests a slow year.
10th to 12th day of Chinese New Year (Thurs – Sat, 26th – 28th February 2026)
These 3 days are suitable for additional feasting with friends and family. It is a good time for renewing old friendships and making new ones. For those in business, these are popular days to network and build stronger connections.
13th day of Chinese New Year (Sunday, 1st March 2026)
After days of feasting on rich foods, it is considered healthy to be vegetarian today. A popular vegetarian breakfast consists of hot soy bean milk eaten with savory ‘Ham Chim Peng’ – (Asian fried bread).
14th day of Chinese New Year (Monday, 2nd March 2026)
This day is spent preparing for Chap Goh Meh. The family sits together rolling “Tong Yuen” or glutinous rice balls filled with sesame, lotus, peanut or red bean paste, which is then cooked and served in a sweet soup infused with ginger. It is a very good day to visit relatives.
15th day of Chinese New Year – Chap Goh Meh (Tuesday, 3rd March 2026)
This day is known as “Yuen Xiao” or Chinese Peach Blossom Day. In the past, single ladies seeking a husband would toss oranges inscribed with their information into a river for eligible bachelors to pick up. Paper lanterns are lit and hung outside homes to signal availability, while “Tong Yuen” is eaten as a family dessert.
Today, modern couples go on dates, but the tradition of eating “Tong Yuen” persists, bringing everyone together again for the last day of celebration. This is another good day to be vegetarian.
Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New Year and a prosperous and joyful year of the Fire Horse!
