The Lunar New Year starts today, and it’s the Year of the Snake, but which one?
In Chinese astrology, each year is associated with a Chinese zodiac animal sign and one the Five Elements: Gold (Metal), Water, Wood, Fire, or Earth. Both the sign and element of your birth year are said to affect your personality and destiny. Once again, this year’s elemental sign is wood – so we are celebrating Wood Snake.
(Please be aware I will be celebrating Chinese New Year by recklessly shooting firecrackers in public locations for the next two weeks. Please also remember that people in China don’t call it Chinese New Year, it’s Lunar New Year; other countries celebrate Lunar New Year as well.)
According to a Chinese legend, Nüwa is the goddess who created the world. She created certain animals on different days, hence each day is considered the birthday of the corresponding animal.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, she created chickens. Legend also has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on the Lunar Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality.
Occupying the Sixth position in the Chinese Zodiac, The Snake is the intuitive, introspective, refined and collected of the Animal Signs. They are attractive people who take cries with ease and do not become flustered easily. They are graceful people, exciting and dark at the same time.
Snake is not a welcome animal in China. Some Chinese born in year of snake prefer to say they were born in little dragon year. They said a dragon fell down from the sky and then became a snake. Therefore, Snakes have Dragon’s body without scale and cannot fly. Dragon is the big brother of Snake. Snake is shame to be on the ground. Snake becomes a calm, shy, cautious and low-key animal. Snake won’t attack its opponent, unless it’s disturbed. As long as we don’t fool with Snake, we won’t get bitten. Snake has the ability to swallow an animal bigger than its size. So we cannot underestimate snake’s ambitious.
It is also believed that Snakes get along best the Rooster, Ox, Monkey, and Horse, who will have good social relationships and excellent interpersonal connections in 2025. Their lucky colors are gold, blue, greenand brown and their lucky numbers include 2, 8, and 9.
The world’s largest annual human migration is now well underway as billions of trips are made across China, in what is known as Chunyun, when students, migrant workers and office employees living away from home will make the journey back to celebrate with their families.
Hopefully, COVID will not run rampant throughout China again.
The Haus of Dcaligari 