When Is Lunar New Year 2027? Traditions, Animals, and Superstitions

Current Year: Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Horse

If you arrived here looking for the current Lunar New Year, that holiday landed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. The 15-day festival closed with the Lantern Festival on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. We are now living through Horse year for the rest of 2026, until the next Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

2026 is also a Fire Horse year on the 60-year element cycle, the first since 1966. Fire Horse years are traditionally seen as bold, fast-moving, and a touch unpredictable, said to favor travel, big decisions, and creative work. People born in 2026 (or any Horse year: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) are described as independent, energetic, optimistic, and strong-willed. Anyone whose own zodiac is the Horse is currently in their Ben Ming Nian, the once-every-12-years zodiac alignment that traditional belief says calls for extra caution. Read on for the remedies.

Looking ahead to 2027? Skip down to the Year of the Goat section, or check the Upcoming Dates table for the next five years.

Lunar New Year 2027, also known as Chinese New Year, begins on Saturday, February 6, 2027. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2027 is the Year of the Goat (also called the Sheep or Ram). Here is what that means, how millions of Asian Americans celebrate from San Francisco to Boston, the superstitions said to bring good luck, and how to say “Happy New Year” in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. Jump to pronunciation.

What Is the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the rising and setting of the Sun, a lunisolar Chinese calendar tracks both the movement of the Moon (luna) and the Sun (solar). The Sun decides the season, the Moon decides the date.

The Lunar New Year usually coincides with the second new Moon after the winter solstice, between January 21 and February 21 each year. On rare occasions it falls on the third new Moon. That is why the date drifts by as much as a month from year to year.

While most people in Asia use the Gregorian calendar in everyday life, the lunisolar Chinese calendar is an important part of cultural and family life across East and Southeast Asia. People often use it to choose dates for weddings, funerals, starting a business, or moving to a new home. In the United States, Asian American families use the same calendar to time family reunions, ancestor veneration, temple visits, and the giving of red envelopes.

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The Lunar New Year is celebrated with a two-part 15-day festival. A Spring Festival lasts 11 days, followed by the Lantern Festival for four days. In Asia, only the first seven days are a public holiday, though many families keep up the traditions for the full 15 days. (There is also an 8-day celebration that precedes the Lunar New Year called “Little Year,” during which preparations are made.) In 2027, the Lantern Festival closes the holiday on Saturday, February 20.

Lunar New Year vs. Chinese New Year: Which Term Should You Use?

The two phrases often appear side by side, and many people use them interchangeably. There is a real difference, and it matters in the United States.

• Chinese New Year refers specifically to the holiday as observed by Chinese communities, with traditions tied to Chinese folklore, food, and family ritual.
• Lunar New Year is the broader umbrella term. It covers Chinese New Year and also Vietnamese Tết, Korean Seollal, Tibetan Losar, and Mongolian Tsagaan Sar. All five share the lunisolar calendar but observe distinct traditions.

Many American cities, public schools, and corporate calendars now use “Lunar New Year” to recognize that the holiday is celebrated by far more than one community. New York City Public Schools added Lunar New Year as an official school holiday in 2015. California recognized it as a state holiday in 2022. The U.S. House passed a resolution in 2023 designating Lunar New Year a national holiday observance.

Why Is 2027 the Year of the Goat?

Each year is represented by one of the twelve animal signs in the Chinese zodiac in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (also known as Sheep or Ram), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. According to Chinese legend, the Jade Emperor (or in another telling, the Buddha) called the animals to a great race, and the order in which they arrived set the order of the years. The Goat finished eighth.

2027 is also a Fire Goat year. The Chinese zodiac pairs each of the 12 animals with one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) on a 60-year cycle. The last Fire Goat year was 1967.

Which Chinese Zodiac Animal Are You?

Locate your birth year below. One note for anyone born in January or early February: your zodiac animal is set by the actual Lunar New Year date that year, not by January 1. Someone born on January 30, 2027 is still a Horse, because Lunar New Year 2027 does not start until February 6. Use the dates above to confirm.

Rat

• Years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 …
• Traits: Known for originality and initiative, intelligent, energetic, trustworthy, hardworking, loyal, perfectionist, easily-angered but forgiving. May love to gamble.

Ox

• Years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 …
• Traits: Patient, persistent, leader, orderly, cheerful, good speaker, somewhat, stubborn, easily-angered, mentally alert, and cautious in dealing with people.

RELATED: What is Your Zodiac Sign? (Western Astrology)

Tiger

• Years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 …
• Traits: Courageous, aggressive, candid, compassionate, likes flattery, virtuous, very friendly, deep-thinking, logical, gentle, and kind.

Rabbit

• Years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 …
• Traits: Talented, articulate, thrifty, affectionate, diplomatic, tactful, peace-loving, good financially minded, seldom ill-tempered, and sentimental.

Dragon

• Years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 …
• Traits: Humorous, sincere, soft-hearted, opinionated, honest, brave, passionate, trustworthy, healthy, willing to help others, and eager to learn.

RELATED: Learn more about Dragon in the Chinese zodiac

Snake (Serpent)

• Years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 …
• Traits: Very wise, beautiful (mind and body), fickle, affectionate, seldom discouraged, strong-willed, good with organization, intelligent, and knowledgeable.

Horse

• Years: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 …
• Traits: Extremely independent, artistic, loves music, drama, and literature, strong-willed, energetic, strives for perfection, optimistic, and loving.

Goat (Sheep, Ram)

• Years: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 …
• Traits: Elegant style (especially with clothing), creative, shy, easily-led, religious, tasteful, easy-to-please, sometimes pessimistic, loves art, smart, and friendly.

Monkey

• Years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 …
• Traits: Very clever, charming, well-read, enthusiastic, skilled, has good common sense, loves adventure and travel. Talkative, agile, and has a good memory.

Rooster

• Years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 …
• Traits: Honest, good worker, self-confident, ambitious, deep thinker, realistic. Excellent foresight, not easily discouraged. Outspoken and frank.

Dog

• Years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 …
• Traits: Loyal, dependable, honest, good executive, and has a sense of humor. Very generous, always helping others. Outgoing, good leaders, artistic, gentle and kind.

Pig

• Years: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 …
• Traits: Chivalrous and gallant, honest, has a great thirst for knowledge. Dislikes arguments, kind, well-liked, calm. A slow but careful nature, easy-going manner.

Year of the Goat: Personality, Compatibility, and Career

People born under the Goat are often described as gentle, calm, and creative. They are the artists, designers, and quiet thinkers of the zodiac. They tend to avoid conflict, prefer harmony, and put a lot of weight on family and close friendships. The downside, by tradition: indecisiveness, sensitivity to criticism, and a tendency to worry.

Goat Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: Gentle, artistic, kind, sympathetic, creative, calm under pressure, generous with family.
• Weaknesses: Indecisive, anxious, easily discouraged, drawn to perfectionism, slow to make big decisions.

Goat Compatibility

• Best matches: Rabbit, Horse, Pig.
• Workable matches: Snake, Monkey, Rooster.
• Hardest matches: Ox, Tiger, Dog.

Careers Said to Suit a Goat

• Artist, designer, illustrator
• Florist, gardener, landscape designer
• Teacher, social worker, counselor
• Editor, writer, musician
• Chef, pastry chef, sommelier

Will 2027 Be a Lucky Year for Goats?

While it may seem lucky to be a Goat in the “Year of the Goat,” the opposite is believed to be true. In Chinese astrology, the year that lines up with your zodiac sign is known as your Ben Ming Nian, a term that refers to a person’s zodiac being the same as the current year’s zodiac. Lunar New Year 2027 is a Goat’s Ben Ming Nian.

Chinese astrology says that when it is your sign’s Ben Ming Nian, it will be your year of Fan Tai Sui. “Fan Tai Sui” means that you are offending the Tai Sui, who is the guardian god for the year. All of that is a complicated way of saying beware: there is bad luck ahead.

It is believed that during Ben Ming Nian, a person, at the very least, may endure misunderstandings, setbacks, and minor mishaps, but they are most likely to experience disasters. (Sounds a bit similar to those who believe in the power of Mercury Retrograde.)

Luckily, Chinese mythology has a few remedies to help ward off bad luck. These traditions include:

• Praying to the Tai Sui early in the year for protection and peace.

• Wearing an amulet made to protect against the effects of Tai Sui.

• Doing good deeds and behaving with love and kindness, especially to elders and the needy, which helps gain the favor of the Tai Sui.

• Worshipping the Tai Sui, often by setting up a shrine in your home to make offerings to both the god and the year’s zodiac animal.

• Wearing red, which is said to help improve your fortune and ward off Fan Tai Sui. Red is considered to be a joyous and auspicious color.

9 Superstitions for Lunar New Year

Regardless of your Chinese zodiac sign, the following nine traditions are said to bring good luck for Lunar New Year 2027:

1. Housecleaning should be done before the Chinese New Year’s Day to sweep away bad luck from the previous year. No sweeping or dusting is allowed on New Year’s Day so that good fortune will not be swept away.

2. All doors and windows must be open at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to allow the old year to escape. It also allows the good luck of the New Year to enter.

3. Setting off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve scares away evil spirits while sending out the old year and welcoming the new one.

4. Precedents are set on New Year’s Day. Therefore, nothing should be loaned on this day, or else the lender will be loaning all year. Mischievous children are never punished on this day to avoid tears destined to last the whole year through.

5. Do not use references to death or the past, use foul language and unlucky words, or the telling of ghost stories, which are taboo on this day.

6. Children are given red envelopes or packets containing even numbered amounts of money since odd-numbered amounts of money are traditionally given during funerals. (Note: Odd and even numbers are determined by the first digit. For instance, “30” is an odd number.) The only exception to the rule is that $4 is never given, as the number four is bad luck. The Chinese word for “four” is a homophone for the word “death.” Eight dollars is commonly given, as the number 8 is considered good luck.

7. Hair washing is forbidden. Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word for prosper. This means washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces your chances for prosperity and good fortune in the year.

8. Knives and scissors may not be used because they may cut off fortune.

9. Celebrants wear red to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune and ensure a bright future. Black and white should not be worn as black symbolizes bad luck, and white is a Chinese funeral color. People typically dress in new clothes and shoes to symbolize a new beginning for the New Year.

How Lunar New Year Is Celebrated in America

Lunar New Year is the largest cultural celebration of the year for more than 24 million Asian Americans. The holiday is marked publicly in cities with historic Chinatowns, in suburban Asian American enclaves, in temples, and at home around the family table. The biggest U.S. parades draw tens of thousands of attendees and are usually held on the weekend closest to the actual Lunar New Year date.

San Francisco: The Largest Lunar New Year Parade Outside Asia

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade has run since the 1860s and is the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. The parade rolls through downtown and Chinatown with the Golden Dragon (a 268-foot-long, 100-handler dragon), lion dance teams, beauty queens, marching bands, and Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Expect 200,000-plus spectators along Market and Kearny Streets, plus a Chinatown Community Street Fair the same weekend.

New York City: Two Parades, Two Boroughs

New York hosts two of the largest Lunar New Year parades in the country. The Manhattan Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade runs along Mott, Mulberry, and East Broadway with lion dances, firecrackers (one of the few times the city legally permits them), and a confetti finale at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The Flushing Lunar New Year Parade in Queens, anchored on Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, is one of the largest pan-Asian celebrations in North America, with Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Chinese American organizations marching together. Lunar New Year is an official New York City public school holiday.

Los Angeles: The Golden Dragon Parade

Los Angeles celebrates with the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown, drawing more than 100,000 spectators. The parade includes traditional dragon and lion dancers, Tibetan Buddhist monks, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, the LA County Sheriff’s lion dance team, and floats from across Southern California’s Asian American community. Lunar New Year is also a recognized state holiday in California as of 2022.

Other American Cities to Celebrate

• Boston: Lion dances and firecrackers in Chinatown along Beach and Tyler Streets, plus events at the Pao Arts Center.
• Chicago: Annual parade along Wentworth Avenue in Chinatown, plus a separate Argyle Street Lunar New Year Parade in Uptown that highlights Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian American communities.
• Houston: The Houston Lunar New Year Festival in Asiatown is the largest in Texas, with simultaneous Vietnamese Tết events in Bellaire and a Chinese Community Center festival.
• Honolulu: Chinatown’s Night in Chinatown festival closes Hotel Street for lion dances, dragon dances, and Hawaiian-Chinese fusion food.
• Seattle: Chinatown-International District parade with lion dance teams, Tai Tung dim sum, and the Wing Luke Museum’s annual Lunar New Year programming.
• Washington, D.C.: Chinatown firecracker ceremony at the Friendship Archway, plus a parade down H Street NW.
• Philadelphia, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas: Each hosts large suburban festivals at Asian American community centers, often spread over the full 15 days.

Lunar New Year Across Asian American Communities

Chinese New Year is the most widely known version of the holiday in the United States, but several other Asian American communities celebrate the same lunisolar new year with their own names, foods, and traditions.

Community	Holiday Name	Signature Food	Defining Tradition
Chinese American	Chun Jie / Chinese New Year	Dumplings (jiaozi), longevity noodles, fish, nian gao	Red envelopes, lion dance, firecrackers, family reunion dinner
Vietnamese American	Tết Nguyên Đán (Tết)	Bánh chưng, bánh tét, mứt (candied fruits)	Lì xì red envelopes, kumquat trees, ancestor altar
Korean American	Seollal	Tteokguk (rice cake soup), jeon (pancakes), japchae	Sebae bow to elders, hanbok dress, family games
Tibetan / Mongolian American	Losar / Tsagaan Sar	Buuz dumplings, khapse fried bread, milk tea	White-food offerings, three-day temple visits, family gatherings
Filipino American (in Chinese-Filipino communities)	Chinese New Year	Tikoy (sticky rice cake), pancit, lumpia	Round fruits for prosperity, lion dance in Binondo-style markets

Lunar New Year Foods on American Tables

Each food on a Lunar New Year table carries a wish. The shape, sound of the name in Chinese, or color stands in for prosperity, longevity, family unity, or wealth.

• Dumplings (jiaozi): Shaped like ancient gold ingots; said to bring wealth. Often folded by the whole family the night before.
• Spring rolls: Their gold-bar shape stands for wealth and a fresh start.
• Longevity noodles (changshou mian): Long, uncut noodles eaten without breaking the strand stand for long life.
• Whole fish (yu): The Mandarin word for fish (yu) sounds like “abundance.” Served whole, head and tail intact, with leftovers reserved for the next day to symbolize a surplus carrying into the year.
• Nian gao (sticky rice cake): The name sounds like “higher year,” promising advancement.
• Tangyuan (sweet rice balls): Round shape symbolizes family togetherness; eaten on the last night of the festival.
• Mandarin oranges and tangerines: The Mandarin word for orange sounds like “luck.” Pairs of fruit are exchanged between households.
• Hot pot: A communal, simmering centerpiece that signifies family gathering.
• Tteokguk (Korean rice cake soup): Eaten on Seollal; the white oval slices symbolize purity and aging one year.
• Bánh chưng (Vietnamese square sticky rice cake): Wrapped in banana leaves and boiled overnight; symbolizes the earth and ancestral remembrance.

Upcoming Lunar New Year Dates

Year	Date	Day	Animal	Element
2027	February 6	Saturday	Goat (Sheep / Ram)	Fire
2028	January 26	Wednesday	Monkey	Earth
2029	February 13	Tuesday	Rooster	Earth
2030	February 3	Sunday	Dog	Metal
2031	January 23	Thursday	Pig	Metal

How to Say “Happy New Year” in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean

Greetings change by language and dialect. Three of the most common in the United States:

• Mandarin Chinese: “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (新年快乐), meaning “Happy New Year.” A more traditional greeting is “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (恭喜发财), meaning “wishing you wealth and prosperity.”
• Cantonese (Guangdong, Hong Kong, Toronto, San Francisco, NYC Cantonese-speaking communities): “Gong Hei Fat Choy” (恭喜發財), the same phrase pronounced in Cantonese.
• Vietnamese (Tết): “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới,” meaning “Happy New Year.”
• Korean (Seollal): “Saehae Bok Mani Badeuseyo” (새해 복 많이 받으세요), meaning “Receive lots of blessings in the new year.”

How to say “Happy New Year” in Chinese, via Rosetta Stone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year is it in the Chinese zodiac right now?

Right now we are in the Year of the Horse, which began on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 and runs until the next Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 6, 2027. 2026 is specifically a Fire Horse year, the first since 1966.

When is Lunar New Year 2027?

Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. It is the Year of the Goat (also called the Sheep or Ram). The 15-day festival closes with the Lantern Festival on Saturday, February 20.

Is Lunar New Year a federal holiday in the United States?

Not yet at the federal level, although the U.S. House passed a resolution recognizing Lunar New Year in 2023. California recognized Lunar New Year as a state holiday in 2022. New York City Public Schools made it an official school holiday in 2015. Several other school districts and corporate employers now observe it.

What is the difference between Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is the Chinese-specific celebration of the lunisolar new year. Lunar New Year is the broader umbrella term that includes Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tết, Korean Seollal, and Tibetan and Mongolian Losar / Tsagaan Sar. In the United States, “Lunar New Year” is increasingly the preferred term in schools, workplaces, and city festivals because it acknowledges multiple Asian American communities.

Where are the biggest Lunar New Year parades in the US?

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade is the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia, drawing more than 200,000 spectators. New York City hosts two large parades, one in Manhattan Chinatown and one in Flushing, Queens. Los Angeles holds the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown. Boston, Chicago, Houston, Honolulu, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. all host major parades and festivals.

How much money goes in a red envelope?

Even-numbered amounts only. Eight is considered the luckiest digit because the Mandarin word for eight sounds like “wealth.” Avoid amounts that include the number four, which sounds like “death” in Mandarin. Common gifts in the United States are $8, $20, $80, $88, or $100. Always use new, crisp bills and a red envelope, never plain cash.

If I was born in early February, am I the previous year’s animal?

Possibly. Your zodiac animal is set by the actual Lunar New Year date, not by January 1. Someone born on February 1, 2027, for example, is still under the Year of the Horse, because Lunar New Year 2027 does not start until February 6. Check the date table above to confirm.

What is the Year of the Goat known for?

Goat years are traditionally associated with creativity, harmony, kindness, and a slower pace. They are seen as good years for the arts, design, and family-focused work. People born in Goat years are described as gentle, artistic, and sympathetic, with a tendency toward worry. 2027 is also a Fire Goat year on the 60-year element cycle; the last was 1967.

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