Grand Prairie Celebrates the Year of the Fire Horse
Published on February 17, 2025
The City of Grand Prairie is proud to recognize The Year of the Fire Horse. Here is a guide to understanding its cultural significance, and how it's traditionally celebrated.
What is Lunar New Year?
February 17th, marks the start of the year of the Fire Horse in several Asian countries. It’s based on the lunisolar calendar, a system of measuring time in which the first day of each month is recognized by a new moon. After 12 cycles, a new year begins.
According to the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPIC) of UC San Francisco, around two billion people celebrate Lunar New Year around the world.
The Year of the Fire Horse
According to the AAPIC, there are 12 animals; each with its own attributes and characteristics in the Chinese zodiac. These 12 animals coincide with the lunar calendar and fall in a 12-year cycle.
The order of the Chinese Zodiac, according to the AAPIC is as follows:
- Rat
- Ox (in China) or Buffalo (in Vietnam)
- Tiger
- Rabbit (in China) or Cat (in Vietnam)
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
While these follow a 12-year cycle, each iteration coincides with the elements earth, metal, water, wood, and fire, depending on the year.
FIND YOUR CHINESE ZODIAC HERE
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FIRE HORSE HERE
How is Lunar New Year Celebrated?
Different regions have different traditions, but Lunar New Year is often celebrated from the first new moon of the year through the first full moon that month.
Common traditions include, sharing meals with loved ones, cleaning your homes to get rid of bad luck and setting off fireworks (but don’t do that in Grand Prairie without a permit, please.)
Where Can You Celebrate Lunar New Year in Grand Prairie?
You can celebrate Lunar New Year at work, and in your own homes, by learning about Asian cultures.
Grand Prairie's Asia Times Square features a number of celebrations throughout the year.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ASIA TIMES SQUARE