Year after year, life opens a fresh chapter. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Samoa, I extend my warmest New Year greetings to the Chinese community in Samoa and the friendly Samoan people on the occasion of the Chinese New Year—the Year of the Horse.

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is the most significant traditional holiday in China and for Chinese communities worldwide. It has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Transcending national and regional boundaries, the Spring Festival has become a shared spiritual treasure of humanity. Today, it is observed as an official holiday in nearly 20 countries, with its customs and celebrations embraced by almost 200 countries and regions.

The year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises vitality, independence, perseverance, and success. Those born under this sign are often seen as energetic, free-spirited, intelligent, and charismatic. The year 2026 is specifically a Fire Horse Year, which occurs only once every six decades and is traditionally considered a period of dynamic energy, bold transformation, and passionate pursuits.

The core of the Spring Festival revolves around family reunion and auspicious rituals. Before New Year’s Eve, families engage in thorough “spring cleaning” to sweep away bad luck, while doors and windows are adorned with red couplets (“chunlian”). For the Year of the Horse, paper cuttings featuring galloping horses are also popular decorations. The centrepiece of the celebration is the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve (In 2026, it falls on February 16), where loved ones gather to share a sumptuous feast. The dishes often carry symbolic meanings—fish represents abundance, while dumplings symbolise wealth. As midnight arrives, fireworks and firecrackers illuminate the night sky. Children receive red envelopes (“hongbao”)containing money from elders, embodying blessings and protection for the year ahead. In the following days, families visit friends and relatives, exchanging greetings like “Xin Nian Kuai Le”(Happy New Year) and “Gong Xi Fa Cai”(Wishing you wealth and prosperity).

The Spring Festival has a history of over a century in Samoa. In the late 19th century, early Chinese farmers arrived in Samoa, bringing with them the traditions of the Spring Festival. Through hard work and resilience, they lived harmoniously with the Samoan people while preserving their cultural heritage. During the New Year, they organised lion dances, acrobatics, and traditional opera performances, inviting village chiefs and locals to share festive meals. Over time, the Spring Festival became the most significant celebration for the Chinese community in Samoa. Historical records, such as a report in the Samoa Times on February 10, 1913, vividly describe Chinese New Year feasts, with the sounds of gongs, drums, and songs drawing crowds. Minutes from the 1932 meeting of the Chinese Association of Commerce also documented Spring Festival activities featuring Kawa water paired with Chinese pastries. In 2026, the Chinese community in Samoa will erect a memorial at the Chinese cemetery to honour their ancestors, commemorate their legacy of remembering their roots while embracing Samoa, and inspire younger generations to contribute anew to the friendship between China and Samoa.

In 2025, which has just passed, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Samoan Head of State Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II and Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, respectively, charting the course for the continuous development of our bilateral ties. Standing at a new starting point, we will continue to uphold the principle of “Four Full Respects”, and promote the building of a closer China-Samoa community with a shared future, to bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries and usher in a new chapter for the next 50 years.

The Spring Festival is a time for cherishing hopes, embracing new beginnings, and celebrating family reunions. Let us charge ahead with the vigour of a spirited horse, surmount challenges with unwavering determination, and pursue shared development with perseverance. I sincerely wish the people of China and Samoa a joyous and prosperous New Year, filled with happiness for every family. May the path of friendship and cooperation between our two nations grow ever broader!

Fei Mingxing is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Independent State of Samoa.