Chinese zodiac predictions: What’s in store for 2025 as we enter the Year of the Snake

CNN —

Bidding farewell to the mythical Dragon, the world welcomes the Year of the Snake on January 29 — the first day of the Lunar New Year. For those who celebrate this ancient festival, starting the year on a positive note is essential.

In addition to eating auspicious foods and taking part in luck-enhancing activities, many people turn to the stars for hints about what lies in store for the months to come.

Let’s start with the basics. The 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar cycle is represented by 12 different animals, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

NANJING, CHINA — JANUARY 21: Aerial view of a worker arranging red lanterns to dry at a workshop in preparation for the upcoming Spring Festival on January 21, 2025 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. (Photo by Zhou Qiang/VCG via Getty Images)

Related article A 2025 guide to Lunar New Year as we slither into the Year of the Snake

Your zodiac animal is determined by your year of birth, meaning those born on or after the first day of the lunar calendar in 2025 will fall under the Snake sign. (See below illustrations to find out which animal represents the year you were born.)

But that’s only the beginning. For faithful followers of the system, a year isn’t just categorized by its animal. There’s also a complex sexagenary cycle made up of 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches.

‘Be observant and patient in chaos’

Every year, a heavenly stem (one of five elements, which fall into the yin or yang category) is paired with an earthly branch (one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals).

This year the heavenly stem is “Yi” — which represents Yin Wood — and the earthly branch “Si” which represents the Snake. That