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It’s that time of year for tikoy, angpao, and joyful reunions once again. As one of the first Philippine holidays, Chinese New Year is a time for fantastic dragon dances, jaw-dropping fireworks, and a feast with family and friends.
Beyond the traditions and festivities, it’s a time to welcome good fortune and celebrate together with the country’s Chinese community.
But when exactly is the Chinese New Year? Why is it important? How should we celebrate the occasion? Here’s everything you need to know, from key dates to traditions worth experiencing.
What’s Chinese New Year and Why is It Being Celebrated?
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. It marks the start of the lunar calendar and the arrival of spring, symbolizing fresh beginnings, prosperity, and good fortune. Families come together to share meals, honor traditions, and welcome the year ahead with hope and positivity.
Each year, the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, or pig. The Chinese Zodiac bears great significance in Chinese folklore, with each animal symbolizing different personality traits. Even today, many still rely on the Zodiac for personal guidance.
When is the 2026 Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and usually falls between late January and mid-February. In 2026, it will be celebrated on February 17 (Tuesday), marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse.
In Chinese astrology, the Horse symbolizes energy, speed, strength, and confidence. Combined with the Fire element, 2026 is believed to be a year driven by passion, momentum, and bold action. Many see this year as a time to pursue goals and move forward with renewed motivation.
People born in the Year of the Horse may experience stronger momentum in career growth, relationships, and self-expression. At the same time, it’s a reminder to slow down when needed, manage impulsiveness, and stay grounded as new opportunities come your way.
How to Celebrate Chinese New Year at Home?
Celebrating Chinese New Year at home is a great way to welcome good luck and enjoy meaningful moments with family. With a few simple activities, you can make the occasion feel festive and special.
Create DIY New Year decorations with your family.
Got some free time on your hands? Give your home a festive makeover for the occasion. Just as Christmas trees and Santa figures set the mood for Christmas, Chinese lanterns and traditional ornaments help bring Chinese New Year to life. When decorating, stick to red accents since the color is believed to bring good luck and positive energy.
Prepare and enjoy a homemade feast (or keep it easy and order in).
Family gatherings are best enjoyed with delicious food. So, make sure to start planning your menu at least a few days in advance. Cooking something homemade adds a personal touch, while ordering keeps things easy and stress-free. If you do order, go for lucky dishes like long noodles for long life, dumplings or tikoy for prosperity, whole fish for abundance, and round fruits such as oranges for good fortune.
Welcome good luck with a simple home refresh.
Before Chinese New Year begins, many families do a light clean-up to symbolically sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune. You don’t need a full deep clean. Tidying common areas, organizing shelves, or rearranging furniture slightly can help your home feel fresh and ready for new beginnings.
Just remember to avoid heavy cleaning on New Year’s Day itself, as it’s believed to sweep away good luck.
Share New Year’s resolutions together.
Take a few minutes to share New Year’s resolutions together, whether you’re with family, relatives, or people you live with. These can be simple goals, such as taking better care of yourself, spending more quality time together, or improving daily routines.
You can also talk about small money goals, like saving more or using budgeting apps. Sharing intentions helps build support and start the year on a positive note.
Experiment with different tikoy recipes together.
What’s Chinese New Year without tikoy anyway? Instead of slicing your “New Year cake” to create thin pieces and frying them like usual, why not switch things up? Explore these easy tikoy variations that are fun to make and enjoy together.
- Tikoy Turon: Slice thin strips of tikoy, banana, and jackfruit. Wrap them together with a turon sheet and fry until golden brown.
- Tikoy à la Mode: Fry the tikoy as usual, then top it off with a scoop of your favorite ice cream upon plating. You can finish this off with your favorite dessert toppings, too, to make things sweeter.
- Steamed Tikoy with Coconut: Trying to avoid fried foods? No problem. Simply steam the tikoy and serve it with shredded coconut for a healthier alternative.
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
As the Lunar New Year begins, it’s the perfect time to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate fresh beginnings with the people who matter most. To make every moment feel special, stay in touch with friends and family throughout the Chinese New Year festivities with reliable data plans.
Flexible prepaid options make it easy to stay in touch for quick greetings, messages, and photo sharing, while postpaid plans offer reliable data for longer calls, livestreaming festivities, and staying connected throughout the celebrations.
Here’s to a year filled with good fortune, stronger connections, and new opportunities ahead.
