Embracing wisdom, luck, and new beginnings in the Year of the Snake

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of Chinese culture's most important traditional celebrations. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is rich in customs, rituals, and festivities.

The Chinese Zodiac plays a crucial role in the celebration. Each year is represented by one of the 12 animal signs, each with its unique characteristics and predictions for the new year.

Snake (蛇)

As the Chinese zodiac animal of the year, the Snake symbolises transformation and renewal. It's a time to shed old habits and embrace new beginnings.

People born in the following years are associated with the Snake and are referred to as “Snakes” in China:

• 1917
• 1929
• 1941
• 1953
• 1965
• 1977
• 1989
• 2001
• 2013
• 2025

In the Chinese Zodiac, the Snake is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. It's also considered an animal that brings good luck, wealth, and prosperity. That's why people born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intuitive, intelligent, and strategic.

Characteristics of Snakes

• Snakes usually act according to their better judgment while maintaining their privacy and tend to be more reserved.
• They are determined to accomplish their goals and hate to fail.
• Snakes represent wisdom and intelligence.
• They are excellent at communication but shy.
• They are great thinkers.

Discover the unique personalities of the Snake

When relating to personalities, the symbolism of the Snake is often used to describe different qualities and traits in people based on their basic connection.

Fire Snake

Fire Snakes are bold, passionate, and energetic. People born under this element are seen as dynamic with a strong will and independence. Their bold personality makes them natural leaders who can ignite confidence in others. However, they can be short-tempered and make impulsive decisions.

• Strengths: Courageous and creative.
• Weakness: Tend to be overly assertive and aggressive when their passion isn’t appropriately managed.

Water Snake

Water Snakes are calm, adaptable, and intuitive. They are deeply connected to their emotions and have a calming presence, allowing them to read a situation's emotional atmosphere. Because of their personality, they are good listeners and very empathetic, but they may sometimes appear distant.

• Strengths: Insightful and gentle.
• Weakness: Secretive and prone to emotional withdrawal.

Earth Snake

Earth Snakes are grounded and stable. With their practical and realistic personality, they are fostering a strong sense of stability. Earth Snakes tend to be more dependable and strongly connected to the physical world. You can rely on this person. However, they can be slow to adapt to change.

• Strengths: Determined and reliable.
• Weakness: Overly cautious.

Metal Snake

Metal Snakes are disciplined, precise, and have a strong will. They make great workers because they are goal-orientated with a sharp mind and meticulous attention to detail. Their strategic thinking helps them achieve success. However, they can come across as cold and too calculating at times.

• Strengths: Logical and focused.
• Weakness: Can be distant and overly controlling.

Wood Snake

They also boast a strong sense of compassion and can be idealistic and work toward improving the world around them. If you have a problem, ask a Wood Snake, as they are good at solving complex problems.

• Strengths: Supportive and nurturing.
• Weakness: Idealistic and struggling with making decisions.

With their unique elements, Snakes bring a diverse range of personalities to the table. Each type brings a unique perspective and perception of the world, from fiery passion to grounded stability.

Feeling lucky?

Who doesn’t like a bit of luck? Let’s dive in and see what brings Snakes good fortune.

Great careers for Snakes

Snakes work very hard but become job-hoppers as they become easily bored. They are great thinkers, and complex problems stimulate them.

People born under this sign are also excellent problem-solvers who thrive under pressure. If you like picturing zodiac signs as casino players, you can try to guess what type of gambler the Snake will be. Our guess is disciplined, bold, calm and with a go-to strategy for all kinds of scenarios.

Let's explore what careers they find stimulating and rewarding:

• Scientist
• Analyst
• Investigator
• Painter
• Jeweller
• Magician
• Dietician
• Sociologist

Celebration dates on the cards

Preparations for the Lantern Festival will be held on 9 February 2025, while the event is scheduled for 12 February 2025. The first edition dates back over 2000 years and has acquired many meanings over time. It celebrates family reunions and society. They are firm in ancient spiritual traditions; some call it the "true" Chinese Valentine's Day.

Some holidays overlapped with the festival, leading to them all becoming a truly unique New Year's celebration.

• Torch Festival – the festival began in ancient times to chase away pests and pray for a good harvest. Children gather firewood and tree branches, and the adults light them. They hold these torches and dance in fields from dusk until dawn. You can still witness it in some parts of South-Western China.
• Vegetable Stealing Festival – the Miao ethnicity in China celebrates this day. During the celebration, a group of girls steal Chinese cabbage from someone's field. It is totally fine if they are caught. However, they are not allowed to steal from family or friends. Later, everyone puts their stolen Chinese cabbage together to make a feast. Legend is that the one who eats the most will be the one to get married first.

Lunar New Year Traditions

The Lunar New Year in China is marked by Chun Yun, the world's largest human migration, as millions travel to reunite with families. Food is one of the pillars in which the nation takes the most pride, and a lot of care is put into the menu for the year's most important holiday.

New clothing for children also adds some excitement to the holiday. It's especially popular to wear new red clothes on New Year's Day. This symbolises a fresh start and opens them up for good luck. Families thoroughly clean their house on the 28th day of the last lunar month to remove bad luck.

In big cities like New York, San Francisco, or London, anyone can join the parades with dragon dances, fireworks, and lantern festivals. You can also celebrate right there from the comfort of your home with our curated Chinese New Year slots list.

The Year of the Snake invites us to think deeply about life and approach the future confidently. Whether you are born under the Snake sign or not, this year's energy will encourage everyone to embrace the power of transformation and make the most of the opportunities that come our way.