New Year in East Asia works according to a lunar calendar - like Easter - and so comes at different dates. Commonly referred to as Chinese New Year (whch it is, of course), as it is celebrated in many different countries, it is more often called the Lunar New Year.

The Zodiac in East Asia cycles through 12 different animals, and each year is associated with one of the animals from that cycle. The Zodiac also rotates through the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and it gives you a better picture of what the year stands for by looking at both the animal and the element together. In 2026 and 2027 the element is Fire, giving us the "Fire Horse" up until 5th February 2027, and the “Fire Goat” (also depicted as the Fire Sheep, and the Fire Ram) from 6th February 2027.

The Goat symbolises kindness, creativity, and a quiet inner strength, while the Fire element adds warmth, passion, and a little extra sparkle. So after the galloping energy of 2026’s Fire Horse, 2027 offers a chance to bring people together and turn that momentum into something lasting. The last year of the Fire Goat was 1967, the year of the Summer of Love — so there’s plenty of inspiration for a year of imagination, friendship, and doing things a little differently!

Of course, the Goat’s sensitive nature can make it prone to worrying, and even a gentle Goat can dig its hooves in when it thinks it knows best. So 2027 is a year to be creative, look after one another, and keep climbing — but choose your path carefully, remember others, and take time to enjoy the view.

In China and East Asia, and for East Asian people in the UK, new year's eve (5th February in 2027) is a time to celebrate a family meal, and early in the new year the priority is meeting up with family. For those who can manage it there’s a long holiday till the first full moon of the new year, on 20th February in 2027, which is marked in some places by a lantern festival.

There are always huge celebrations around Lunar New Year in and around London Chinatown, with a big parade from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown, followed by lots of stalls and activities, including some fabulous Lion Dances, throughout the day in and around Chinatown.