Hold your horses.

According to the Chinese zodiac, which is calculated by the Chinese lunar calendar, 2026 is the year of the horse; specifically, the fire horse.

The horse is the seventh of a dozen animals in the zodiac, which includes the tiger, rabbit, ox and dragon, and each corresponds to different birth years.

Those born in the year of the horse, including 1954, 1966, 1990 and 2002, are said to be brave, strong, adventurous and independent. Some of the horse years are designated as fire horse years, while others are wood, metal, earth and water horses. Fire horses are a little zestier than other horses; they’re brimming with enthusiasm and energy.

Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute will celebrate the start of fire horse year at the 27th annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday at Ent Center for the Arts.

Festival admission is free, but the two shows (11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) featuring the traditional lion dance, acrobatics by Aerial Aura, taiko drummers and more are ticketed. Free martial arts presentations take place at 12:30 and 3 p.m.

CSCCI, a nonprofit that seeks to encourage a greater appreciation of Chinese culture through education and social interaction, changed the event’s name this year from Chinese New Year Festival to Lunar New Year Festival.

“Because that’s what it’s called,” said Rhonda Maehara, event organizer and CSCCI president. “Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, all these cultures, even Filipinos and Cambodians, they all celebrate this time of the year. It revolves around the moon.”

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

— It operates differently from the American new year. China and other Asian countries spend two weeks celebrating before the new year officially begins. This year it begins Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 5, 2027.

“They’ll take their vacation during that time,” Maehara said. “You clean your house before it starts. They get a lot of Asian snacks or candy, coconut or lotus root. They bring that out to celebrate and make certain foods around that time of the new year.”

— The Chinese zodiac stems from a story about the Jade Emperor, or the Buddha in some instances, and his desire to select a dozen animals for the calendar. He held a race, and all the animals sped to the kingdom, where their arrival order created the Chinese horoscope.

“There are cute stories, like the rabbit was really slow but then he jumped on the back of another animal and jumped off, and that’s how he got ahead of the others,” Maehara said.

— After the big two-week celebration and after the new year starts, Asian cultures turn to silence. They must be quiet and eat bland food.

FIVE THINGS TO SEE AT THE FESTIVAL

— Traditional lion dance: Five to seven elaborate lion costumes are each inhabited by two to three people from martial arts clubs who perform a ceremonial dance and acrobatics. The ritual includes eating cabbage dangling from a fishing pole.

“They grab the lettuce and pretend to chew and spit it out to the audience,” Maehara said. “It’s fun for kids. You have to be skilled to be the head of the lion. It’s a rite of passage for kung fu guys.”

— Sun Mountain Taiko: The Pikes Peak region group will perform with its traditional Japanese percussion instruments.

— Aerial Aura: The Chinese are known for acrobatics, Maehara says, and this Colorado Springs team will perform on silk ropes and feature a contortionist.

— Tea House: Visitors can sample tea and get a taste of an authentic Chinese tea ceremony.

— Chinatown: An assortment of vendors will sell horse dolls, Asian jewelry, artwork, clothing and other Chinese items. Potter Mark Wong will teach the art form to children.

IF YOU GO

What: Lunar New Year Festival by Colorado Springs Chinese Cultural Institute

When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.

Price: Festival is free, performances at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. require tickets, $14-$18, free for ages 4 and younger; cscci.org