February 17, 2026 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year - a celebration of the arrival of spring and the coming new year in the lunisolar calendar.
Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in China, but it is also celebrated in many other Asian countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. There are twelve different animals in the zodiac, and many believe that your horoscope, personality, and love life are influenced by your zodiac sign. Different regions of Asia may acknowledge a different zodiac, or they may not observe the zodiac at all.
There are many Lunar New Year traditions such as setting off firecrackers, wearing red, and decorating with red spring banners. Family gathers together to share a meal. While foods may vary by region, the offerings at the table will typically represent good wishes for the year ahead, like long noodles for a long life or a whole fish to represent prosperity. Mahjong and other gambling-based games are popular. Many will visit temples to pay respect to deceased loved ones on both the eve and the day of the Lunar New Year.
Some Korean Lunar New Year food includes kimchi dumplings, tteokguk (rice cake soup), and yaksik (sweet rice with dried fruit and nuts). Yee sang or “The Prosperity Toss Salad” is a popular dish in Malaysia.
Many cultures will also exchange hóngbāo, red envelopes filled with money to symbolize good wishes and luck for the year ahead. While the tradition is often to give these envelopes to children, there are often given to friends, family, colleges and other relatives.
You can check out our Lunar New Year programs at YPL and if you’re looking for Lunar New Year book recommendations, check out this list here or ask a librarian for more specific recommendations.
Alison Robles, a Yonkers native, received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She works at the Crestwood Library and is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction, and fantasy.