Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake

The Year of the Snake starts on February 10, 2013 and ends on January 30, 2014.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, one of the most important traditional holidays in China, people start by cleaning the house thoroughly to clean out the ill fortunes from the previous year and making space for new hopes. They hope to reconcile and forgive old grudges, so the year can be started with peace and forgiveness.

They decorate their house with red symbols of wealth, good fortune, happiness, and longevity. On New Year's Eve, they exchange gifts and have a family gathering that includes their best food. In the morning, the children receive red envelopes that contain money. Many of the New Year festivities last for several days.

Some cities host a New Year's parade. Even places in other parts of the world with large Chinese populations will take part in these New Year's festivities. There are New Year songs, including the one shown in the video that is sung by adorable school children.

There are 12 signs on the Chinese Zodiac, and the snake is the sixth one. Since there are 12 symbols, the next Year of the Snake will be 12 years from now, in 2025.

The Chinese consider a snake to be a good omen. They say that your family will not starve when there is a snake in the house. The symbol is enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined and collected.

Characteristics of People Born in Year of the Snake

The snake is an active and seductive creature. It calmly sits around, but carefully watches its surroundings. Once the opportunity is right, it is quick to strike. It has ability to read complicated situation quickly in a controlled manner which is good for business.

People who are born in 2013 and other Year of the Snake years are keen, cunning, and wise. They can see things from different angles to make an insightful decision, and are motivated to act quickly once the decision is made. They easily adapt to changing conditions. They are great mediators and good at doing business. These Snakes work well with others and enjoy being recognized and rewarded. They are ambitious and enjoy the finest things in life, including clothes, music and books. They are comfortable being by themselves. They enjoy interesting conversations, particularly about new ideas and intelligent discussions, but get bored easily.

They’ll reveal feelings to those closest to them, but no one else. They are self-confident to a fault, and have difficulty hearing constructive criticism and advice. They don't get angry easily, but when they do, they will want to take revenge on the person who has hurt or betrayed them. They also tend to be suspicious and have difficulty trusting others. Their inclination to spend money quicker than they can earn it may produce financial problems and tensions in personal relationships.

The Zodiac also combines elements with the zodiac symbols. In the Year 2013, are born Water Snakes. Since water is a calming element, people born this year will not always feel the need to be right. Since they allow others to become involved in their activities, they are more likely to make better decisions. They are able to see things from other people's points of view.

As the video above shows, the New Year provides a great occasion to heal old wounds and reconcile with your estranged family members. It lets you reunite with your loved ones and celebrate as you anticipate the forthcoming year.