The Lunar New Year is Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026. That date will usher in the year of the horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. In preparation, factories in China are quickly rolling out symbols and souvenirs. One factory had a little oopsie in making their red plush horses. If you look carefully, you can see that the muzzle was attached upside-down, which gave the horse a frowning mouth instead of the intended smile. When the manufacturer realized the error, they offered customers replacement horses.
The frowning horses were dubbed the "cry-cry horse," even though the toy's wide eyes combined with the frown seem to imply fear or dread more than sadness. It quickly became a viral sensation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a frowning horse. The manufacturer hopped on board, and reset the factories to produce more cry-cry horses to meet the demand. In China, they are sold for about US$3.50, but if you order from the US through Amazon, they will cost you $10 to $15 plus shipping, depending on size and vendor. If you're moving into the year with trepidation, this may be your spirit animal. -via kottke
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