Year of the Snake
Years of the Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025...
The Snake occupies the sixth position in the Chinese zodiac. The 12 zodiac animals are, in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to a 12-year-cycle.
You will get the following information on this page:
- Snake Years
- Lucky/Unlucky Things for the Snake
- The Snake's Personality
- Snake's Love Compatibility
- Snake's Horoscope in 2021
Zodiac Snake Years
People born in a year of the Snake are called "Snakes" in China. If you were born in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, or 2013, then you're a Snake.
The Chinese zodiac year is usually said to start from Chinese New Year, which ranges from late January to mid February.
You can use our "Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign" tool to find your zodiac animal sign or see the table below.
You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator tool to find your zodiac animal sign or see the table below.
| Snake Year | Chinese Zodiac Calendar | Type of Snake |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | January 23, 1917 – February 10, 1918 | Fire Snake |
| 1929 | February 10, 1929 – January 29, 1930 | Earth Snake |
| 1941 | January 27, 1941 – February 14, 1942 | Gold Snake |
| 1953 | February 14, 1953 – February 3, 1954 | Water Snake |
| 1965 | February 2, 1965 – January 20, 1966 | Wood Snake |
| 1977 | February 18, 1977 – February 6, 1978 | Fire Snake |
| 1989 | February 6, 1989 – January 26, 1990 | Earth Snake |
| 2001 | January 24, 2001 – February 11, 2002 | Gold Snake |
| 2013 | February 10, 2013 – January 30, 2014 | Water Snake |
| 2025 | January 29, 2025 – February 16, 2026 | Wood Snake |
Lucky Things for People Born in a Year of the Snake
Things that will bring Snakes luck:
- Lucky numbers: 2, 8, 9, and numbers containing them (like 28 and 89)
- Lucky days: the 1st and 23rd of Chinese lunar months
- Lucky colors: black, red, and yellow
- Lucky flowers: orchid and cactus
- Lucky directions: east, west, and southwest
- Lucky months: the 1st, 8th, and 11th lunar months
Things that Snakes should avoid:
- Unlucky colors: brown, gold, white
- Unlucky numbers: 1, 6, and 7
- Unlucky directions: northeast and northwest
- Unlucky months: the 3rd, 9th and 12th lunar months
The Snake's Personality: Intelligent, Wise...
In Chinese culture, the Snake is the most enigmatic animal among the 12 zodiac animals. People born in a year of the Snake are supposed to be the most intuitive.
Snakes tend to act according to their own judgments while remaining private and reticent. They are determined to accomplish their goals and hate to fail.
Snakes represent the symbol of wisdom. They are intelligent and wise. They are good at communication but say little. Snakes are usually regarded as great thinkers.
Snakes are materialistic and love keeping up with the Joneses. They love to possess the best of everything but they have no patience for shopping.
Snake people prefer to work alone; therefore, they are easily stressed. If they seem unusually stressed, it is best to allow them their own space and time to return to normal.
Check Other Chinese Zodiac Animals
Which Type of 'Snake' Are You?
In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. For example, a Wood Snake comes once in a 60-year cycle.
It is theorized that a person's characteristics are decided by their birth year's zodiac animal sign and element. So there are five types of Snakes, each with different characteristics:
| Type of Snake | Year of Birth | Characteristics of Snakes |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Snake | 1905, 1965 | Orderly, intelligent, with a gift for appreciating the knowing celebrities and a refined taste |
| Fire Snake | 1917, 1977 | Smart, insightful, communicative, active, and fond of the limelight |
| Earth Snake | 1929, 1989 | Calm, with strong self-control, but not steadfast and diligent enough in work |
| Gold Snake | 1941, 2001 | Determined, courageous, confident, and able: a born leader |
| Water Snake | 1953, 2013 | Clever, creative, lively, and communicative, but sentimental |
See Chinese Zodiac Snakes of 5 Elements: Characters and Destinies.
Love Compatibility: Is She/He Compatible with You?
Each animal sign has its unique characteristics. Love compatibility within the Chinese zodiac animals takes the characteristics of each animal into account. Only those whose characteristics match can be good partners.
See below the compatibility of the Snake with other animals, and find out if the Snake is compatible with your sign or not.
- Best with: Dragon, Rooster
- Worst with: Tiger, Rabbit, Goat, Pig
The Best Careers for Snakes
Snakes are very creative and extremely diligent. Although Snakes work very hard, they have a tendency to be job-hoppers as they become easily bored. Snakes are great thinkers. Complex problems stimulate them. They're excellent problem-solvers and thrive under tight deadlines.
Good career choices for Snakes include: scientist, analyst, investigator, painter, potter, jeweler, astrologer, magician, dietician, and sociologist.
Good Health for Snakes
Snakes prefer living a peaceful life and they do not like a noisy environment. Snakes become easily stressed when their lives aren't calm or in order. Therefore, a manageable workload would be good for them rather than a challenging schedule.
Snakes need to spend lots of time relaxing. It's necessary to take vacations at the proper time. People should pay attention to the health of Snakes, especially senior members in the family.
How to Build Relationships with Snakes
People born in a year of the Snake do not have a lot of friends. It is extremely hard to get to know them because they keep their feelings locked up inside. Snakes are careful when choosing friends. They will never forgive a breach in friendship.
Once people are his/her friends, a Snake is willing to share his sorrow and happiness with them. Snakes guard their chosen friends much like valuable possessions, and they are easily jealous and even obsessive.
Snakes' Horoscope for 2021
2021 Snake HoroscopeIn 2020, those born in a year of the Snake will miss out on some good things in life if they're only pursuing work.
Snakes will feel tied up because of their strong sense of responsibility, but they will be rewarded with the achievement of their goals. For Snakes, life will be meaningful, and they will be aware that life is supposed to be composed of losing and gaining.
2021 is a year of the Ox, and for Snake people — those born in a year of the Snake, the year's horoscope is generally good.
Whether at work or in the area of finance, Snakes, you will get the help of your people. Owing to Snakes’ intelligence and calm, business will be greatly improved in 2021. At the same time, it will be very good in terms of wealth: Snakes, no matter what you do, it can be rewarded.
Is a Snake Year a Lucky Year?
The year of one's birth sign (本命年 běnmìngnián /bnn-ming-nyen/ 'origin (of) life year') is believed to be the most unlucky in the 12-year cycle. Therefore Snakes should be more careful about all aspects of their lives, including love, health, their careers and finances. Read more on How to Be Lucky in Your Ben Ming Nian.
The next Snake year is 2025. It starts on Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025).
Famous Snake Year People
| Famous Snakes | Birth Date | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Pablo Picasso | October 25, 1881 | a Gold Snake |
| Mao Zedong | December 26, 1893 | a Water Snake |
| John F. Kennedy | May 29, 1917 | a Fire Snake |
| J. K. Rowling | July 31, 1965 | a Wood Snake |
