A Beginner’s Guide To Lunar New Year: The Dos And Don’ts
SADDLE UP
By Cali Westmoreland | 16th February 2026For anyone quietly panicking that their resolutions haven’t materialised, or that the year didn’t quite begin the way you imagined, consider this your reprieve. The real reset is still on its way, arriving softly under the glow of a brand new moon.
Forget the midnight countdowns and New Year’s resolutions of seasons past (that was so 2025), and say hello to the Lunar New Year.
What is the Lunar New Year?
On February 17, 2026, the Lunar New Year begins, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse with a 15-day celebration observed across China and throughout East and Southeast Asia, as well as within global diaspora communities.
Unlike January 1, which follows the fixed Gregorian calendar, the Lunar New Year shifts annually, guided by the lunisolar calendar and the cycles of the moon. It typically falls between late January and mid-February and signals the seasonal turn toward spring – renewal in its finest form.
Image: Experience Sunnybank
Widely known as Spring Festival in China, the holiday centres on reunion, reflection, and intention setting. Families travel home. Tables stretch long. The past is honoured; the future invited in. And right here in Brisbane, celebrations are happening citywide – from Sunnybank activations to intimate inner-city dining, you too can join in the festivities.
But 2026 carries particular heat.
Enter: The Year of the Fire Horse
If last year was about rebuilding, 2026 is about momentum. The Year of the Fire Horse brings speed, confidence, and bold opportunity.
In the zodiac’s 60-year cycle, each animal pairs with an element – and this time, the Horse meets fire, the element of passion, visibility, and rapid transformation. It also unfolds within feng shui’s Period 9 (2024 to 2044), a larger fire-led era that favours innovation and reinvention.
The message for 2026? Move.
And if we’re moving, let’s do it with intention. To kick off the year the right way, here’s your curated guide to the essential dos and don’ts for welcoming luck, style, and success this Lunar New Year.
What To Do
Wear red – but make it intentional
Red is the Lunar New Year power colour – symbolising joy, protection, and prosperity. Wear it on February 17 for the holiday itself, then ease up. With 2026 already saturated in fire energy, balance is important. Early-year birthdays harmonise with white and gold tones; later birthdays glow in pinks and greens.
Clear the energy
Deep clean before the new year to sweep away old luck. Once the new moon hits, put the broom down – we do not want to sweep away any fresh fortune! Keep the centre and south-east of your home bright and active in 2026. Add softness – plants, white, gold, or blue – where energy feels tense.
Gift with grace
Red envelopes filled with money are offered by elders as blessings for the year ahead. Present and receive with bold hands. Bring mandarins when visiting – gold in fruit form.
Eat with meaning
Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner is the main event. Expect abundance symbolism. Fish for surplus, dumplings for wealth, rice cakes for growth, and citrus for prosperity. It’s manifestation at its finest – served family style.
Open the windows
When the clock strikes midnight, letting fresh air into your home will symbolise a welcome of new beginnings and fresh luck. Think of it as an intentional energetic reset.
What Not To Do
Cut, sweep, or quarrel
The first days set the tone. Avoid haircuts (symbolically cutting prosperity), sweeping or taking out trash, arguments, and lending or borrowing money. Words and actions are believed to echo.
Wash it away
On the first day of the Lunar Year, avoid washing anything – that includes laundry, dishes, and even your hair. Water is symbolically tied to wealth and good fortune, so rinsing things out at the very start of the year is believed to send prosperity straight down the drain.
Cut your luck
Keep knives and other sharp tools tucked away on the first day of the new year. Using them is believed to “cut off” your good fortune, so prep your meals ahead of time and let the energy stay whole.
Wake someone abruptly
It’s traditionally believed that scolding or waking someone sharply on the first day of the new year could set a tone of being hurried or reprimanded all year. Let them rest!
Use sharp language
Keep the conversation positive in the first days of the year. Avoid words tied to death, illness, or misfortune – even casual mentions can be seen as inviting bad luck.
So, let’s step into 2026 like the Fire Horse you were born to be – bold, unrestrained, and incredibly fierce. Follow the dos, dodge the don’ts, and let every ritual, colour, and bite symbolise and fuel a year of momentum, luck, and unapologetic energy. It’s your move. Gong xi fa cai!
Looking for ways to celebrate? Check out our roundup of Brisbane’s best Lunar New Year events here.
Imagery: @lolatungthings_, @mudari.healing, @grandcanalshoppes
