nThe Year of the Snake has officially begun, bringing with it a wave of renewal and regeneration. Celebrated across the globe, the Lunar New Year — which includes Chinese New Year, Seollal in Korea, Tet in vietnam, and more — kicked off on Jan. 29, marking the start of more than two weeks of festivities, traditions, and abundant feasts. Known as the Spring Festival, this holiday celebrates the arrival of spring and the begining of a new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
While the snake often carries a negative connotation in Western cultures, it is a revered and celebrated symbol in the East. This year, the Year of the Wood Snake is expected to bring positive transformation, encouraging people to embrace new beginnings and let go of the past.
“It’s all about shedding toxicity in personality, in character traits,” saeid Jonathan H. X. Lee, an Asian and Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University, whose research focuses on Chinese folklore. “It’s shedding the ego, letting go of the past, letting go of anger, letting go of love lost. This is the year where that kind of growth — personal and macro, internal and external — is very much possible.”
Lee emphasized that the snake is an auspicious sign for inner work, whether it involves releasing unrealistic expectations of loved ones or breaking free from bad habits. Those born in the Year of the Snake — including 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025 — are frequently enough associated with intelligence, resilience, and love. “They are known to have this innate potential to be really successful, as they can think outside the box, and they will endure and they will persevere,” Lee added.
This year, the wood element adds another layer of importance,symbolizing growth and renewal across the three major organized Chinese religions. In Daoism, wood represents flexibility and adaptability, qualities that align perfectly with the transformative energy of the snake.
To help you navigate this auspicious year, hear’s a quick summary of key points:
| Key Aspect | Details |
|——————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Year of the Snake | Symbolizes renewal, regeneration, and transformation |
| Lunar New Year Start Date | Jan. 29, 2025 |
| Associated Traits | Intelligence, resilience, love, and perseverance |
| Wood Element | Represents growth, flexibility, and adaptability |
| celebrations | Includes Chinese New Year, Seollal, Tet, and more |
As we step into the Year of the Wood Snake, it’s a time to embrace change, let go of the past, and focus on personal growth. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or on your own, this year offers a unique opportunity to slither into a brighter future.The snake, a creature often misunderstood, holds profound symbolism across various cultures and philosophies. In Taoism, it represents returning to one’s natural state or true nature.Confucianism views it as a symbol of becoming a more polished person, while Buddhism associates it with letting go for growth. These interpretations reveal the snake’s multifaceted role in shaping cultural narratives.
The positive qualities of the snake are deeply rooted in two folklore tales. In the story of the creation of the Chinese zodiac, the snake was once a four-legged, happy creature. Though, after being isolated by other animals due to his appearance, he grew angry. Blaming the Jade Emperor for his creation, the snake’s anger led to physiological changes, such as growing fangs, and he began snapping at others.
When the Jade Emperor learned of this, he punished the snake by taking away his legs. The emperor promised that if the snake won a race against the other animals—a competition that would determine the order of the zodiac—he could win a prize and potentially regain his legs. Though the snake didn’t win,he placed sixth,impressing the emperor with his perseverance and dedication.This earned him a spot among the 12 animals of the zodiac.
The race also transformed the snake in other ways. “He learned how to control that anger. But because that anger was a part of him for so long, he had the yearning to go out and harm and bite,” Lee explained. “When that happened, he would stay isolated and … he would grow out of his old skin to let go of that past.”
Beyond its association with transformation, the snake is also a symbol of love. In the “Legend of the White Snake,” one of China’s four great folktales, an immortal white snake disguises herself as a maiden and falls in love with a man. When the man dies upon discovering her true identity, she attempts to steal from the tree of immortality to revive him.Caught by the emperor guarding the tree, she explains that her love for the man spans thousands of years, as he had saved her life in a past incarnation.
“They had this cosmic connection lifetime after lifetime,” Lee said.Moved by her story, the emperor encourages her to save her husband.“For people that grow up in this kind of cultural landscape with these types of stories and folklore, the snake is a representation of love,” Lee added.
key Symbolism of the Snake in Different Cultures
Table of Contents
| Philosophy/Culture | Symbolism |
|————————-|—————|
| Taoism | returning to one’s natural state |
| Confucianism | Becoming a more polished person |
| Buddhism | Letting go for growth |
| Chinese Folklore | Transformation and love |
The snake’s journey from anger to transformation, and its embodiment of love, highlights its enduring significance in cultural and philosophical traditions. Whether shedding its skin to let go of the past or symbolizing eternal love, the snake remains a powerful and evocative figure.
exploring the Year of the Wood Snake
An Interview with Lee
Editor: Welcome, Lee! As we approach the year of the Wood Snake, could you share its significance and what it represents?
Lee: Certainly! The Year of the Wood Snake is highly meaningful,especially when considering the snake’s symbolism in Taoism,Confucianism,and Buddhism. In Taoism, the snake represents returning to one’s natural state or true nature. confucianism views the snake as a symbol of becoming a more polished person, while in Buddhism, it is associated with letting go for growth. These interpretations highlight the snake’s multifaceted role in shaping cultural narratives.
editor: That’s engaging! Could you elaborate on the positive qualities of the snake and their roots in folklore?
Lee: Absolutely. the positive qualities of the snake are deeply rooted in two folklore tales. In the story of the creation of the chinese zodiac,the snake was once a four-legged,happy creature. However, after being isolated by other animals due to his appearance, he grew angry. Blaming the Jade Emperor for his creation,the snake’s anger led to physiological changes,such as growing fangs,and he began snapping at others. When the Jade Emperor learned of this, he punished the snake by taking away his legs but promised that if the snake won a race against the other animals, he could win a prize and perhaps regain his legs. Even though the snake didn’t win,he placed sixth,impressing the emperor with his perseverance and dedication. This earned him a spot among the 12 animals of the zodiac.
Editor: What other transformations did the snake undergo during this race?
Lee: The race also transformed the snake in other ways. He learned how to control that anger. But because that anger was a part of him for so long, he had the yearning to go out and harm and bite. However, he would stay isolated and grow out of his old skin to let go of that past.
Editor: Interesting! How does the snake symbolize love in Chinese folklore?
Lee: In the “Legend of the White Snake,” one of China’s four great folktales, an immortal white snake disguises herself as a maiden and falls in love with a man. When the man dies upon discovering her true identity, she attempts to steal from the tree of immortality to revive him. Caught by the emperor guarding the tree, she explains that her love for the man spans thousands of years, as he had saved her life in a past incarnation. Moved by her story, the emperor encourages her to save her husband. This tale highlights the snake as a depiction of love.
Key Symbolism of the Snake in Diffrent Cultures
| Philosophy/Culture | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Taoism | Returning to one’s natural state |
| Confucianism | Becoming a more polished person |
| Buddhism | Letting go for growth |
| Chinese Folklore | Transformation and love |
Editor: Thank you, lee, for this enlightening conversation. It’s clear that the snake holds a rich and varied significance across different cultures and philosophies.
Lee: My pleasure! The snake’s journey from anger to transformation and its embodiment of love highlight its enduring significance. Whether shedding its skin to let go of the past or symbolizing eternal love, the snake remains a powerful and evocative figure.
