Lunar New Year Celebration

In February 2026, a rare convergence of major cultural and religious traditions occurred, with Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Carnival/Mardi Gras, and Lent all starting within the same time window (Feb 17–18). This synchronized "global reset" of lunar, solar, and lunisolar calendars occurs only once every 163-years.

It is the Lunar year of the Fire Horse, and the third year in a row that we have celebrated with friends here in Portugal.

The Year of the Fire Horse, brings intense, fast-paced, and transformative energy, demanding bold, decisive action and independent thinking. Occurring every 60 years, it is a period for innovation, passion, and rapid change, but requires caution against impulsivity and recklessness.  To read about individual horoscopes based on birth year, click here to download the document which we had available at the party.  

As this was the first year we held the Lunar New Year celebration in our new house, we decided to invite a few more people than in past years.  We had a total of 15 people and three dogs, and we were fortunate to have good weather so we could use our patio, as well.

​As always, the party was an opportunity to eat lots of good Asian food, using some recipes from Mark's mom and including several items which are designed to bring good fortune in the coming year.  

As is our tradition, during a dessert of Chinese egg custards, sesame balls with sweet bean paste, traditional tangerines and fortune cookies, we each read our fortunes in both Portuguese and English.  And everyone received a red envelope with wishes of fortune and good luck in the coming year. 

Gung Hay Fat Choy!