If you’ve been active on social media lately, you know that everyone has been raving over the past couple of weeks because of their Chinese zodiac signs. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, which is a rare event that happens only once every 60 years. The year of the Fire Horse promises action, energy, and independence.
A ranking of which zodiac signs would be most prosperous went viral on TikTok. The Dog, Sheep, Tiger, and Horses were rated as the luckiest for this year. Those born in the year of the Tiger so happen to be many of our underclassmen population at Centreville High School.
“They [people born in the year of the Tiger] will experience a renewed sense of confidence, doors opening with greater ease, and a strong, uplifting ‘yes’ energy guiding their decisions and direction,” In an article published in Parade, Janine Lowe, the author of Feng Shui Your Way to Abundance and Chinese astrology expert, says.
Those who don’t believe in Chinese zodiac fortunes and superstitions or simply don’t care about their luck for this year can look forward to the revival of 2016. According to an article Rose-tinted filter: Why 2016 is taking over social media in 2026, published by the BBC, Stats from Spotify show a 71% increase in “2016” playlists last year compared with 2024.
Some elements from 2016 that have been brought back are music and makeup. Zara Larsson’s hit Lush Life, which was released ten years ago, made it in the UK’s top 40 songs last month and is now at number eight. People are returning back to maximal and glam 2016 makeup looks.
But why are people trying to revive 2016 this year? It’s not only because it’s been exactly a decade. With the current events happening in the country right now, many people want to go back to simpler times where AI wasn’t turning the world dystopian or going through large transitions.
Clay Routledge, a psychologist who specializes in the study of nostalgia, understands why this trend is occurring. “We tend to be especially nostalgic when the world feels like it’s going through some major change.” It’s also important to remember that at the end of 2016, President Donald Trump was elected for his first term. Now, he is back for his second term, and many young people are feeling uncertain about the future.
For Centreville students, there are many things to expect for the third and fourth quarter of the school year.
Erik Haigler, a chemistry teacher at Centreville High School, makes his own predictions for students’ performance. “Math grades will go down, English grades will go up, history grades will stay the same around the year, AP Seminar will go up. It just depends on how the classes are set up.” Haigler explains. “The best performances are at the beginning of the year. All students are looking to do better at the beginning of the school year, but that starts to fade.”
In conclusion, there are many things to expect from 2026. Though this may seem like any year, 2026 proves to be special as the Year of the Fire Horse is a rare one that only occurs after every other Chinese zodiac has had their own cycle. People who have had a hopeless 2025 hold their chins up for a hopeful 2026. With advancements of AI and troubling current events, people are starting to make reforms for when it was a simpler time. So hopefully, through everyone’s hard work and aspirations, 2026 will truly be a happy new year.
