Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 14 in Chinatown with a program of free cultural activities.
The program will include artistic performances, cuisine, and traditions from Chinese and Costa Rican culture.
The event is being organized by the Chinese Colony Association in Costa Rica, in collaboration with the Municipality of San José and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
The celebration is part of the Year of the Horse, a Chinese zodiac sign that symbolizes energy, perseverance, work, and movement.
The Horse is associated with periods of dynamism, the pursuit of progress, and determination, values that mark the beginning of each new lunar cycle.
2026: Year of the Fire Horse
2026 will be ruled by the Year of the Fire Horse, a particularly energetic cycle in the Chinese horoscope, which will run from February 17, 2026, to February 7, 2027.
This combination—considered one of the most intense in the Eastern calendar—promises movement, bold decisions, and profound transformations.
The Horse symbolizes independence, speed, courage, and a desire for freedom, while the Yang Fire element amplifies these qualities with an expansive and unstoppable energy.
This period encourages taking action, starting projects, and moving forward without fear, favoring personal and collective progress.
However, it also invites us to maintain emotional balance and avoid impulsiveness, as the force of Fire can lead to hasty decisions if not managed consciously.
A global holiday
Also known as the Spring Festival, it is the most important celebration in the Chinese lunar calendar, with more than 4,000 years of history.
It marks the beginning of a new year according to the cycles of the moon and is linked to values such as renewal, prosperity, and family unity.
Although its origin is Chinese, the holiday is celebrated in many Asian countries and in Chinese communities around the world.
Among its best-known practices are family gatherings, red decorations, parades, and traditional dances.
There are also rituals aimed at attracting good fortune and warding off bad luck.
The celebrations traditionally culminate with the Lantern Festival.
“Celebrating Chinese New Year allows us to share our traditions with Costa Rican society and strengthen the cultural ties that unite us; we are sister nations, united for decades, who have always worked and prospered together in harmony,” said Isabel Yung, representative of the Chinese Colony Association in Costa Rica.
Free Activities
• Chinese and Costa Rican cuisine
• Traditional dance performances
• Kung fu demonstrations
• The traditional lion dance, symbol of prosperity and protection
