What to expect in the Year of the Snake: Chinese New Year and horoscope explained

Another year over, a new one just begun. Today, billions of Chinese around the world will be welcoming in the New Year, as the Year of the Dragon makes way for the Year of the Snake - the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle

All of the 12 animal signs which feature in the Chinese zodiac have their own specific characteristics and personality traits. For example, the snake is respected for its intelligence and elegance, symbolizing mystery and wisdom, adaptability and spiritual growth. While the snake is usually viewed negatively in western culture, the Chinese focus on it’s positive attributes.

What characteristics does the Snake have in the Chinese zodiac?

Men born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be sharp-sighted, thoughtful, intuitive and resourceful, while women born in the Year of the Snake are generally considered confident, self-assured, calm and serene.

However, on the flip side Snake people can be solitary creatures with a tendency to be over cautious and will deliberate before making decisions.

Some of the famous people who were born in the Year of the Snake include: Chairman Mao, Pablo Picasso, John F. Kennedy and J.K. Rowling.

So what’s in store for this year? The Chinese zodiac is governed by five elements: metal (jin), wood (mu), water (shui), fire (huo) and earth (tu). This year’s element is wood, making it the Year of the Wood Snake - the first since 1965.

It’s a combination which adds extra layers of meaning - the Wood Snake symbolizes growth, creativity, and flexibility, signaling a time for change both individually and collectively.

Chinese New Year predictions?

We have already seen some events which could be seen as era-defining - such as the launch of DeepSeek’s advanced AI technology, the return of Donald Trump to the White House will also have an effect. We may see an end to the conflict in Ukraine and some progress to the situation between Palestine and Israel.

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