The Chinese New Year (Spring Festival, Chūn Jié) is a grand celebration with a history stretching back millennia, shrouded in mysterious legends and filled with vibrant traditions. The celebration lasts 16 days. Before it begins, people clean their homes to drive away misfortune and make way for joy; red decorations and paired couplets (duìlián) are often pasted on doors. The main event is a festive New Year’s Eve dinner, when several generations of relatives gather at the table; dishes with symbolic meanings are served (dumplings for prosperity, fish for abundance, long noodles symbolize longevity).

During the holiday, cities set off fireworks, hang traditional lanterns, and dance in the squares with dragon figures. The first days of the New Year holiday are devoted to visiting relatives and exchanging wishes. There are many taboos (do not swear, break things, or pay debts) so as not to bring bad luck.

According to an ancient legend, the festival originated from a creature called Nian (年, nián), whose name literally means "year." This monster attacked villages every year on the last day of winter, devouring livestock, crops and even people. One day the villagers discovered that Nian was afraid of the red color and of loud noises. Since then, the Chinese have hung red decorations and set off fireworks to drive the evil spirit away.

The Chinese New Year in 2026, begins on February 17. The festival follows the lunar calendar, so the date changes each year– it falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. According to the Chinese calendar, the year 4723 begins. The Lunar New Year is celebrated not only in China but also in other countries that live according to the lunar calendar: Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Mongolia.

The symbol of the coming year according to the Eastern calendar is the Red Fiery Horse. The horse occupies the seventh place in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac and is considered a symbol of momentum, freedom, and determination. In art, the image of the Horse has a wide resonance: its plasticity and dynamism allow it to convey movement, strength, and passion. The horse is a multifaceted symbol, ranging from power and status in monuments and ceremonial portraits to freedom and loneliness in romantic painting and poetry. The material nature of an image influences its perception: bronze sculpture lends monumentality and eternity to an image, graphic art lends expressiveness of lines and rhythm, painting lends plasticity and depth of color, watercolor lends lightness and evanescence, and photography lends documentary authenticity to a moment.

We present to your attention online version of the booklet “The Image of Horse in Art.” The edition features paintings and sculptures from the museum Collection repository.

The authors of these works are talented sculptors, painters, and jewellers: Zichy M.A., Klodt von Jürgensburg P.K., Lanceray E.A., Lieberich N.I., Orłowski A.O., Ovchinnikov P.A., Pozen L.V., Sazikov I.P., Samonov P.A., and Troubetzkoy P.P.

On the cover: Horse. Mario Buccellati. Italy. Circa 1900s.