Also referred to as Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, and other country-specific titles, at Bon Appétit we recognize the festival is honored by various cultures — each with their own rituals, foods, histories, and nuances — and use the term Lunar New Year to be inclusive of all who observe this rich holiday.
While official Lunar New Year dates vary each year, it is typically observed during the second new moon after the winter solstice, which falls between January 21st and February 20th on the Gregorian calendar. It symbolically marks the transition from winter to spring, embodying a spirit of renewal and fresh beginnings.
With roots tracing back 3,500 years, the festival is steeped in legends, most common being the story of a mythical beast Nian that consumed livestock, crops, and even people on the eve of a new year. To ward him off, bright red lanterns and loud firecrackers were used as protective measures, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and establishing many new year traditions that persist to modern day. Today, Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people throughout the world and is a time to reconnect with family and friends — often over a feast of symbolic foods that usher in good luck.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse and represents the fiery energy of adventure, courage, and ambition. This year in particular is the year of the Fire Horse, blending the independence of the horse with the intensity and creativity of the fire element. For this year’s Lunar New Year festival, we are celebrating the coming spring in our cafés with A Lucky Feast, a new digital cookbook filled with special dishes contributed by our own chefs to honor food traditions from around the world. We wish you prosperity, luck, abundance, and of course, a feast of delicious (and lucky!) foods.
