The Lunar New Year is welcomed with a variety of cultural traditions and rituals such as carnivals, parades, fireworks and ancestor remembrance.

As the Year of the Horse galloped in, revelers ushered in the most prominent festival on the lunar calendar with some quirks – from kung fu robots to Harry Potter’s teenage nemesis – and some reflection.

Lunar New Year celebrations are kickstarting today and ushering in the Year of the Horse.

The 2026 Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year begin Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the Western calendar. ChinaHighlights.com explains that "Lunar New Year" is a more general term encompassing all celebrations marking a new year according to a lunar calendar. Many regions across Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in many ways, following different zodiacs.

Feb. 17 marked the start of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse. Boston offers plenty of celebrations featuring traditional foods, arts and crafts and several lion dance parades.

My dad always says that at the hot pot table, you could sit next to a stranger, and by the end of the night they’d be your best friend,” Pickowicz writes. “Now, more than ever, we need these moments to bring us together.

Celebrations of Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras 2026 are happening at the same time on Feb. 17.

Chinese Lunar New Year 2026 is here. This year's animal promises energy and bold moves for 2026. Here's what to know.