Year of the Wood Snake?
Chinese New Year begins 29 January, but what does the snake year foretell?
I’m not sure that anyone can predict the fortune of an entire year, let alone the characteristics of all peoples born worldwide within that year, but who am I to argue with a calendar aligned with the cycles of the moon that has been around since antiquity. I couldn’t find an exact origination date, but research suggests it could be as far back as 2697BC. So, ever the eager journo, I wanted to research how the Year of the Snake, the first day of which is today, Wednesday January 29th, might potentially impact you and me.
This is what I found out…
The background
Celebrated across Asia and beyond, the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, marks the start of a new year based on the cycles of the moon rather than the Gregorian calendar, which the majority of Western civilisations follow giving us New Year’s Day on 1 January. Much as we do, it’s hugely celebrated, and often involves a thorough Spring clean of the home (to remove bad luck as well as dust), the giving of gifts, and the gathering together of family to share an auspicious meal.
Such time-honoured customs underscore the festival's deep cultural significance, symbolising a fresh start and a shared sense of belonging.
It’s a snake year, because this is the next animal in the twelve year Chinese zodiac cycle. So 2024’s Dragon year closes and we move into serpentville...
In order, the animals are as follows…
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
According to legend, the order of the animals was based on a competition amongst them which was held at a river. The order of the winners became the cycle of the animals. Desperate to win, the rat came first, but being a poor swimmer, the snake hitched a ride on the hoof of the horse. He jumped off at the last minute, to claim sixth place, just ahead of the horse, who became the seventh sign.
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But what of the snake?
The snake may not sound like a terribly fortuitous symbol. In the West we probably associate it with being sinister, devious, or evil. In Greek and Roman mythology, says the FT, “serpents signify fertility, power and renewal, while the ancient Egyptians associated the snake with royalty and protection and it’s likeness often adorned the heads of Pharaohs.”
But in the East, interestingly, its metaphors and meanings are quite contradictory. Traditionally it’s associated with traits like wisdom, intuition and charm. And people born in the Year of the Snake are generally considered to be rational, calm, thoughtful, and loyal to their loved ones. And yet, allegedly, the snake is also associated with darkness, dampness and femininity. “Poisonous snakes are often associated with evil women who seduce men and suck their yang to nourish their yin” stated a news article from the University of Sydney!
And what of the wood bit? Well, it’s considered a Wood Snake because each year also corresponds to one of the five basic elements in Chinese cosmology, namely Metal, Wood, Water, Fire or Earth, creating a 60-year cycle. According to the South China Morning Post, “These elements complement and conflict with each other, but it is this ongoing interaction that is believed to promote harmony, balance, and order in the natural world.”
OK, but what does it all mean?
According to Vex King, a self-described “Self-love Writer” with 1.9m followers on Instagram, the Year of the Snake calls upon us to shed anything that no longer supports our wellbeing — including the snakes in the grass. He continues, “to move with purpose, not pressure. To transform quietly yet powerfully. To act with intention and respond with precision. And to let your growth speak louder than revenge ever could. It’s the year to release the old and make space for what’s truly aligned with your journey. The most powerful transformations happen in silence. Your evolution doesn’t need an audience. Endings might feel heavy, but they’re clearing the path for a lighter, brighter future.”
Astrologer Lisa Stardust, writing in British Vogue concurs: In the Year of the Snake: “Releasing old views and transcending them to embrace new beliefs will be easy once we let go of the desire to be in control. Only then will we be free from former situations and able to live as we please. Since the reptile slithers by the grace of intuition, we can conclude that our feelings and senses will lead us towards decision-making in the upcoming year. Learning to trust our impulses will be challenging, but we shouldn’t second-guess our hunches.”
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“The three days prior to the New Moon is a period of no moon when everything is cleansed to prepare for the fresh start of the new year,” explains author of Chinese Astrology: The Key to Understanding Yourself, Master Chue Kay Tom in Glamour “This includes refreshing the paintwork on the main door of your home, decluttering the key rooms and the bedrooms.” She continues, “Wise mantras for 2025 are: act with diplomacy, avoid causing offence and deal with the facts on hand and not those gleamed from gossip,” she says. “2025 is a year for listening to each other’s needs and making the best endeavour to combine in a happy compromise for to over assert your authority is to jeopardise your own stability.”
According to South China Morning Post, the sixth day after the New Year, Monday 3rd February, is the best day for getting rid of old things. Whereas, the third day, Friday 31st January, is considered an ominous day. A day to rest, stay home and not for visiting friends and family! The 15th day, Wednesday 12th February, as the first full moon night of the lunar year, is considered the end of the New Year Festival, but it’s also the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It’s traditional to decorate the streets with lanterns, and let off fireworks.
And finally, echoing the general themes, Hong Kong-based certified counsellor and award-winning astrologist Letao Wang tells The New York Post, “The Year of the Snake in 2025 is all about intuition, wisdom, and transformation. Snakes are known for their calm, thoughtful nature, and this year will bring that same energy — encouraging us to look inward and plan thoughtfully. It’s a time to let go of old habits or patterns, much like a snake shedding its skin, making room for renewal and growth. The snake’s graceful, mysterious vibe can inspire us to stay focused and resilient, making 2025 a year of deep personal and collective progress.”
Famous Snake people
Taylor Swift, Anne Frank, Pablo Picasso and Bod Dylan, Mahatma Gandhi, JFK, and JK Rowling.
Feels aligned to the ‘Let Them’ theory!