How to celebrate Li Chun 2026?
Besides depositing money based on your zodiac sign, the best way to usher in Li Chun in 2026 is to learn about the meaning and cultures behind Lichun:
What is Li Chun?
Li Chun (立春) is the first solar term (节气) in lunar calendar. There are 12 major and 12 minor solar terms throughout the year.
Li Chun marks the arrival of spring and was traditionally regarded as the start of the new year in Chinese culture, making it an important moment to welcome the year ahead. In contrast to today’s custom of celebrating the New Year on the first day of the lunar calendar, ancient Chinese society recognised Li Chun as the true beginning of the year.
Apart from making money deposits at the start of the Chinese New Year (CNY) to symbolise the constant flow of wealth, there are several other traditions observed during Li Chun.
When is Li Chun 2026?
In 2026, Li Chun (立春) starts on 4 February 2026 (Wednesday). It falls on the seventeenth day of the twelfth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.
This is a special phenomenon known as 双春年 in which two Li Chun occur within the same lunar year. The first falls on 3 February 2025 (during CNY 2025), the sixth day of the first lunar month, while the second occurs on 4 February 2026 (before CNY 2026), the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Li Chun 2026 money deposit schedule by zodiac sign
The auspicious hours to deposit money are from 3:00am to 9:00pm on 4 February 2026 (Wednesday). Each zodiac sign has its own specific auspicious hours.
You can refer to the table below for your designated time and head down to the nearest POSB, UOB, OCBC or other banks’ ATM to deposit money. Expect large crowds before office hours, between 7:00am and 9:00am on 4 February 2026!
To avoid the queue, you can also use internet banking, PayNow or PayLah for your deposit.
| Zodiac | 4 Feb 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Rat | – 7am to 9am |
| Ox | – 7am to 9am – 9pm to 11pm – 5pm to 7pm |
| Tiger | – 7am to 9am – 11am to 1pm – 7pm to 9pm |
| Rabbit | – 7am to 9am – 1pm to 3pm – 7pm to 9pm |
| Dragon | – 7am to 9am – 5pm to 7pm |
| Snake | – 7am to 9am – 5pm to 7pm |
| Horse | – 3am to 5am – 7am to 9am – 1pm to 3pm – 7pm to 9pm |
| Goat | – 7am to 9am – 11am to 1pm |
| Monkey | – 7am to 9am – 9am to 11am |
| Rooster | – 7am to 9am – 9am to 11am |
| Dog | – 3am to 5am – 7am to 9am – 11am to 1pm |
| Pig | – 3am to 5am – 7am to 9am – 1pm to 3pm |
If you have more cash at hand, consider placing a fixed deposit this year. As of January 2026, the interest rate is between 0.8% and 1.3% per annum for a 12-month tenure.
Understanding the timeframe: Why are the time slots in 2-hour intervals?
In modern times, a day is commonly defined as 24 hours. However, in ancient Chinese astrology, a day is measured by 12 Earthly Branches (地支).
Each Earthly Branch represents 2 hours, corresponding to a specific zodiac sign, and together they span the full 24-hour day.
As shown in the table below, a day in Chinese astrology begins at 11:00pm. Therefore, the period from 11:00pm on 3 February to 1:00am on 4 February is considered part of 4 February in this system.
| Branch | Timeframe | Corresponding Zodiac |
| 子 | 11pm – 1am | Rat |
| 丑 | 1am – 3am | Ox |
| 寅 | 3am – 5am | Tiger |
| 卯 | 5am – 7am | Rabbit |
| 辰 | 7am – 9am | Dragon |
| 巳 | 9am – 11am | Snake |
| 午 | 11am – 1pm | Horse |
| 未 | 1pm – 3pm | Goat |
| 申 | 3pm – 5pm | Monkey |
| 酉 | 5pm – 7pm | Rooster |
| 戌 | 7pm – 9pm | Dog |
| 亥 | 9pm – 11pm | Pig |
Other Li Chun traditions and their importance
1. Erect the eggs
During Li Chun, you’ll often see people trying to balance eggs upright.
This practice, known as “Li” (立) in Chinese, is believed to bring good luck for the entire year when you successfully balance an egg.
2. Eat springrolls
As Li Chun signifies the start of spring (春) and spring rolls are called 春卷 in Chinese, its a tradition to eat them on this auspicious day to welcome the new year.
Springroll is also consumed on the first day of Chinese New Year to usher in the first day of lunar calendar.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing (接地气) is undoubtedly the brightest and most uplifting way to celebrate the new year.
Family and friends often gather outdoor during Li Chun to enjoy a simple outing while enjoying the mild sunlight on Li Chun.
