Asian communities around the world welcomed the Year of the Wood Snake on 29 January 2025. The celebration lasts until 16 February and closes with the Lantern Festival. So, what can we expect from the Year of the Snake?
Revered for its ability to shed its skin, the snake (蛇, shé) is traditionally associated with wisdom, mystery, and transformation in Chinese culture. As a result, the coming lunar new year is likely to be a period of rebirth as we move away from old ways, learning from the past and moving towards a new future.
In Chinese folklore, snakes are also called "little dragons." According to ancient legend, the snake undergoes a transformation over hundreds of years, eventually becoming a jiao (蛟), a mythical creature that lives underwater. A thousand years later, the jiao becomes a dragon without horns. After several centuries, it grows horns before ultimately becoming a celestial dragon that soars through the sky after another millennium.
Snake Traits
The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Its stealthy movement, hibernation patterns, dietary habits, moulting, and adaptability in different environments generally give the creature an air of mystery. That said, a snake’s ability to coil lazily yet strike with speed, climb trees, swim, and move with uncanny precision also gives it an aura of unpredictability, elusiveness, and ruthlessness.
In Chinese culture, snakes are valued for their intuition, elegance, and strategic thinking—traits associated with adaptability and patience, qualities needed to overcome challenges. People born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be insightful, graceful, and resourceful. They are also known for their vigilance, caution, and rationality, making them adept at handling complex situations and pursuing creative endeavours. Snakes share some traits with their more illustrious dragon counterparts, including emotional depth and long-term planning.
Prominent Year of the Snake Personalities
Chinese leader Mao Zedong
Actress Gong Li
US President John F. Kennedy
US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan
British author J.K. Rowling
US talk show host Oprah Winfrey
British actor Daniel Radcliffe
US pop star Taylor Swift
2025 Prospects
Anyone born in the Year of the Snake can typically expect a year filled with challenges. It’s possible they may experience mood swings or pessimism over the next 12 months. Travelling may help relieve such emotional knots. Those born in the Year of the Snake should pay attention to their relationships and health, taking extra precautions about safety, especially when engaging in outdoor activities or using metal tools.
Some believe that those born in the current zodiac year can reduce misfortune by donating blood, getting their teeth cleaned, or improving their life circumstances, such as getting married, buying a new house, or securing a promotion. It's important for them to adopt a conservative approach to their finances and career over the next 12 months to avoid unnecessary risks.
People born in the zodiac signs that conflict with the snake—tigers and pigs—may face obstacles and will need to exercise patience. In contrast, zodiac signs compatible with the snake—roosters and oxen—are likely to experience smoother lives and may encounter new opportunities.
In addition to the zodiac animals, ancient Chinese tradition believes that five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—also influence one's fortune in a given year. To add another layer of complexity, the balance of yin and yang plays a role, with yin representing a cool, calm, and contracting state and yang representing an active, bright, and expansive philosophy.
According to the traditional Chinese calendar, 2025 is a yin wood year associated with soft greenery. As such, the Year of the Little Green Wood Dragon is expected to bring abundant rainfall in spring and summer, favourable agricultural conditions, and bountiful harvests in autumn and winter. However, some challenges are likely to persist in other industries, with high prices and limited growth opportunities. Additionally, the next 12 months mark the second year of a 20-year "li fire" cycle, characterised by global unrest, natural disasters such as wildfires, and shifts in technology, art, and intellect (e.g., artificial intelligence).
Stability continues to be the best strategy for navigating these challenging times.
We would like to conclude by wishing all our readers a very happy new year—whatever zodiac animal you happen to be!