The Snake represents the Chinese zodiac year that began on January 29, 2025. This Lunar New Year began the Year of the Wood Snake, which continues until the next Lunar New Year in February 2026.
Chinese zodiac years follow the lunisolar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. As a result, an animal year usually begins in January or February, not on January 1. People born before January 29, 2025, generally belong to the Dragon year for Chinese zodiac purposes.
The Snake is the sixth animal in the standard 12-animal sequence. Traditional zodiac interpretations often associate it with intelligence, intuition, wisdom, and calmness, although these character descriptions are cultural beliefs rather than scientific findings.
The 2025 designation combines the Snake with the Wood element. The animal cycle and the five-element cycle operate together, producing a repeating 60-year combination cycle.