Year of the Fire Horse Celebrated with Festivities at Nan Tien Temple in Berkeley
Celebrations have been taking place for the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, with locals and visitors flocking to mark this auspicious occasion at Nan Tien Temple in Berkeley. The event featured giant effigies of horses decorated in red for luck, as attendees hoped for the best in the year ahead.
Personal Stories from Attendees
Huynh Nhu, who was born in the Year of the Horse and has family in Wollongong, traveled from Marrickville in Sydney to celebrate at Nan Tien. "Every new year of the Lunar New Year we come here, join with our family, go to the Nan Tien Temple... it's very famous," she said. "I'm in the horse year too. They say the horse year is very enthusiastic, powerful... so I'm very happy. I can make my plans a bit faster and a bit luckier."
Other participants, such as Mackenna Atoui and Maddison Atoui of Loftus, also joined in the Lunar New Year festivities at the temple, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
Chinese Astrology Insights
According to Chinese astrology, the horse is characterized as agreeable and confident, but dislikes being reined in by others. Horses are typically fit and intelligent, enjoying exertion and displaying decisiveness, though they can also be impatient and easily swayed. Ying He and Isabella Thomassian, both born in the Year of the Horse, were among those celebrating, embodying these traits.
The event served as a community gathering to welcome the new lunar cycle, with wishes extended to all horses and their acquaintances for a prosperous year ahead.
