Lunar New Year 2027: February 6 in China, February 7 in Korea
The Year of the Fire Goat begins on Saturday, February 6, 2027 in China and Vietnam, and a day later, on Sunday, February 7, 2027, in Korea. Here is why the dates differ, when the holidays fall, and when the new zodiac year really starts.
Why Korea celebrates a day later
A lunar month begins on the day of the new moon, and that day is counted in local time. China’s calendar runs on Beijing time (UTC+8), Korea’s on Korea time (UTC+9). The new moon that opens 2027 arrives at 15:56 UTC on February 6: 11:56 pm in Beijing, still February 6, but 12:56 am on February 7 in Seoul. One hour of time zone puts the two New Years on different days.
It happens again the following year. In 2028 the new moon lands at 11:12 pm Beijing time, so Chinese New Year falls on January 26 and Korea’s Seollal on January 27. Vietnam’s Tết, counted in UTC+7, falls on February 6 in 2027, the same day as in China.
Seollal holidays in Korea, 2027
Korea takes three days off for Seollal: the day before, the day itself and the day after, which in 2027 means February 6 to 8. Because Seollal falls on a Sunday, the next working day, Tuesday, February 9, becomes a substitute holiday, so most people get four days in a row, Saturday to Tuesday. Seollal and Chuseok are the two big family trips of the Korean year, and trains and highways out of Seoul fill up well ahead.
China’s official Spring Festival holiday for 2027 is set by the State Council, which announces the year’s holiday calendar in advance.
When does the Year of the Goat begin?
It depends on who is counting.
| Boundary | 2027 | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | Saturday, February 6, 2027 | The Chinese zodiac sign in most English sources |
| Korean Seollal | Sunday, February 7, 2027 | The Korean folk zodiac, 띠 (tti) |
| Ipchun, the start of spring | Thursday, February 4, 2027, 10:46 am Korea time | The year pillar of a saju chart |
So a baby born on February 5, 2027 is already a Goat in a saju chart but still a Horse by Lunar New Year. What a Fire Goat birth means · Why saju starts the year at Ipchun · The 2027 Fire Goat year
How Koreans spend Seollal
The morning starts with 차례 (charye), a memorial rite in which many families set out food for their ancestors, followed by 세배 (sebae): children and younger relatives bow deeply to their elders, wish them a good year and receive 세뱃돈 (sebaetdon), New Year money in an envelope. Everyone eats 떡국 (tteokguk), a soup of sliced rice cakes; by the old way of counting, the bowl makes you a year older (Korean age). Afternoons go to 윷놀이 (yunnori), a board game played by tossing four sticks, and to long talks with relatives about jobs, marriage and exams, which younger Koreans famously dread.
The greeting is 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo), “receive many blessings in the new year.” Many people also look up their fortune for the year, in a saju reading or the old Tojeong Bigyeol almanac.
Lunar New Year dates, 2024–2033
| Year | China | Korea (Seollal) | Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sat, Feb 10 | Sat, Feb 10 | Wood Dragon |
| 2025 | Wed, Jan 29 | Wed, Jan 29 | Wood Snake |
| 2026 | Tue, Feb 17 | Tue, Feb 17 | Fire Horse |
| 2027 | Sat, Feb 6 | Sun, Feb 7 | Fire Goat |
| 2028 | Wed, Jan 26 | Thu, Jan 27 | Earth Monkey |
| 2029 | Tue, Feb 13 | Tue, Feb 13 | Earth Rooster |
| 2030 | Sun, Feb 3 | Sun, Feb 3 | Metal Dog |
| 2031 | Thu, Jan 23 | Thu, Jan 23 | Metal Pig |
| 2032 | Wed, Feb 11 | Wed, Feb 11 | Water Rat |
| 2033 | Mon, Jan 31 | Mon, Jan 31 | Water Ox |
For every lunar date of the year, see the Chinese calendar for 2027. Dates in bold differ from China’s. Chinese dates are computed for Beijing time; Korean dates follow the calendar of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
FAQ
When is Lunar New Year 2027?
Saturday, February 6, 2027 in China and Vietnam, and Sunday, February 7, 2027 in Korea. The Year of the Fire Goat lasts until the next Lunar New Year: Wednesday, January 26, 2028 in China and January 27 in Korea.
Why is Seollal a day later than Chinese New Year in 2027?
The new moon arrives at 11:56 pm Beijing time on February 6, which is already past midnight in Korea. Each calendar starts the month on the local date of the new moon.
What animal is 2027?
The Goat, sometimes translated as the Sheep or the Ram, with the Fire element: 丁未, a Yin Fire Goat year.
Is a baby born in early 2027 a Horse or a Goat?
By the Chinese zodiac, babies born before February 6, 2027 are Horses. In saju the year turns at Ipchun, 10:46 am Korea time on February 4, so a baby born after that moment is already a Goat in their chart.
How do you say Happy New Year in Korean?
새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo), which means “receive many blessings in the new year.”
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