Galloping into the Year of the Horse

2026 is the Year of the Horse: a zodiac sign that symbolizes energy, freedom, and forward momentum. In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is admired for its vitality, independence, and adventurous spirit. People born under this sign are often described as strong-willed, dynamic, and ready to run toward new horizons.

But in Japan, the Year of the Horse has an interesting cultural twist. Historically, certain Horse years, especially the Fire Horse year, were associated with superstition. Women born in those years were believed to be too strong-willed, which supposedly made marriage difficult. This belief was so widespread that in 1966, a Fire Horse year, Japan saw a significant drop in birth rates as families tried to avoid having daughters born under that sign.

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