The Snake is paired with the heavenly stem Yi in the Chinese zodiac year 2025.
Lunar New Year on January 29, 2025, began the Year of the Wood Snake, whose traditional sexagenary designation is Yi Si. Yi is the second heavenly stem, and Si is the earthly branch paired with Snake. The year ended on February 16, 2026.
The heavenly stems and earthly branches form the 60-year cycle used to name traditional calendar years. The stem Yi corresponds to the Wood phase in this pairing, producing the full designation Wood Snake rather than merely Snake.
Some calendars label the same year as the Green Snake year because Wood is associated with green in traditional symbolism. That color nickname does not replace the formal stem-and-branch name, and the zodiac year does not begin on January 1.