After doing this for 15 years we’ve run out of things to tell you about Chinese New Year, so I’m just going to talk about hair!
Gung Hei Fat Choy!
Contrary to what some people think, this doesn’t mean Happy New Year. (That would be San Nin Faai Lok). It translates more as Wishing you great prosperity. Fat choy* also translates as (or sounds like**) hair vegetable, which is why a dish with fat choy is traditionally eaten as part of the New Year celebratory meal. Sometimes referred to as algae or moss, fat choy is actually a type of photosynthetic bacteria that grows in the Gobi desert (you weren’t expecting that, were you?). It has the appearance of slimy black hair (I’m not selling it very well, am I?) and doesn’t really taste of anything much (OK, forget I even mentioned it). But it will bring you great fortune if you eat it at New Year, according to Chinese belief!
February 17th 2026 begins the year of the Fire Horse. In the folklore story of how the Chinese zodiac came to be, the Jade Emperor invited animals to race to his palace to determine their order in the zodiac. The horse was the favourite to win because he was strong, powerful and elegant. Unfortunately, he was slowed down by his own vanity, pausing to enjoy the attention from the crowds, prancing and flicking his beautiful mane, and so failed to start the race at the right time and finished in 7th place.
If you were born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, you are probably a horse. This is your year. Do your best, give it all the horse energy you have but, beware, don’t let vanity get in the way of your goals.
Gung Hei Fat Choy
Wishing you health, happiness and nice hair in the year of the horse!
Mo and Dave
*unfortunately named, but nothing to do with me!
**more on food that sounds like good stuff so is eaten at Chinese New Year
