蛇Chinese zodiac · 6th sign
Year of the Snake 蛇 (shé) · Wise, intuitive and quietly magnetic
The Snake is the sixth sign, associated with wisdom, intuition and transformation. People born in a Snake year are thoughtful, perceptive and private.
- Yin sign
- Fixed element: Fire
- Hours: 9am–11am
- Branch: 巳 sì
Recent years
2001 · 2013 · 2025
Lucky numbers
2, 8, 9
Lucky colors
Black, red, yellow
Lucky flowers
Orchid, cactus
Best matches
Ox, Rooster, Monkey
Challenging matches
Pig, Tiger
Year of the Snake dates
The Year of the Snake comes round every 12 years. Each one also carries one of the five elements, which is why an Earth Snake is not quite the same as a Metal Snake.
| Year | Dates | Element sign | Stem-branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 10 Feb 1929 – 29 Jan 1930 | Earth Snake | 己巳 (jǐ sì) |
| 1941 | 27 Jan 1941 – 14 Feb 1942 | Metal Snake | 辛巳 (xīn sì) |
| 1953 | 14 Feb 1953 – 2 Feb 1954 | Water Snake | 癸巳 (guǐ sì) |
| 1965 | 2 Feb 1965 – 20 Jan 1966 | Wood Snake | 乙巳 (yǐ sì) |
| 1977 | 18 Feb 1977 – 6 Feb 1978 | Fire Snake | 丁巳 (dīng sì) |
| 1989 | 6 Feb 1989 – 26 Jan 1990 | Earth Snake | 己巳 (jǐ sì) |
| 2001 | 24 Jan 2001 – 11 Feb 2002 | Metal Snake | 辛巳 (xīn sì) |
| 2013 | 10 Feb 2013 – 30 Jan 2014 | Water Snake | 癸巳 (guǐ sì) |
| 2025 | 29 Jan 2025 – 16 Feb 2026 | Wood Snake | 乙巳 (yǐ sì) |
| 2037 | 15 Feb 2037 – 3 Feb 2038 | Fire Snake | 丁巳 (dīng sì) |
Born in January or February? The Chinese zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January, so check the exact dates above. If your birthday falls before Lunar New Year you belong to the previous year’s sign. The Birth Destiny calculator works it out for you.
Snake personality
Snakes think before they act and rarely show their whole hand. They are elegant, analytical and good with money, with a dry sense of humor. They trust their instincts and can be suspicious of others.
Strengths
- Wise and perceptive
- Calm and composed
- Determined once committed
- Financially astute
Weaknesses
- Secretive
- Can be jealous or possessive
- Slow to forgive
- Prone to overthinking
The five types of Snake
Your birth year gives you an element as well as an animal. The Snake’s own fixed element is Fire, and each Snake year adds Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water on top, changing how the sign expresses itself. Choose your birth year to read about your type.
Snake love and compatibility
Snakes are deep, loyal and selective. They are attracted to intelligence and discretion and expect the same loyalty they give.
In Chinese astrology the Snake gets on best with the Ox, Rooster and Monkey. The Pig is the Snake’s opposite sign, and the Tiger can also be a testing match.
Snake career and wellbeing
Career and money
Snakes do well in work that rewards analysis, patience and discretion. They are natural strategists and investigators.
- Science and research
- Finance and investment
- Psychology and analysis
- Art, design and fashion
Health and wellbeing
Snakes hold tension inwardly. Calm routines, good sleep and time alone to think keep them balanced.
Lucky numbers: 2, 8, 9. Lucky colors: black, red, yellow. Lucky flowers: Orchid, cactus.
The Snake in 2026 and 2027
How a year feels depends partly on how your sign relates to the animal that rules it.
2026: Year of the Fire Horse
17 Feb 2026 – 5 Feb 2027
A steady year for the Snake. In 2026 progress comes from consistent effort rather than lucky breaks.
2027: Year of the Fire Goat
6 Feb 2027 – 25 Jan 2028
A steady year for the Snake. In 2027 progress comes from consistent effort rather than lucky breaks.
The Snake in the Great Race
According to legend, the Jade Emperor invited the animals to race across a river, and the order in which they finished set the order of the zodiac. The Snake coiled around the Horse’s leg, then startled it at the finish to slither into sixth place.
The Snake is the 6th sign. It is linked with the earthly branch 巳 (sì), the hours 9am–11am and Yin energy.
Snake questions, answered
What years are the Year of the Snake?
Recent Years of the Snake are 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 and 2025. The Chinese zodiac year begins at Lunar New Year in late January or February, so people born early in the year should check the exact dates.
What is the Snake’s personality?
People born in the Year of the Snake are traditionally wise, intuitive and elegant. Snakes think before they act and rarely show their whole hand.
Who is the Snake most compatible with?
The Snake is most compatible with the Ox, Rooster and Monkey. The most challenging matches are the Pig and Tiger.
What are the Snake’s lucky numbers and colors?
The Snake’s lucky numbers are 2, 8, 9 and its lucky colors are black, red, yellow. Numbers traditionally avoided are 1, 6, 7, and colors to avoid are white, gold.
What element is the Snake?
The Snake’s fixed element is Fire. In addition, every Snake year carries one of the five elements, giving five types: Wood Snake, Fire Snake, Earth Snake, Metal Snake and Water Snake.
Explore the other signs
Not sure of your sign?
Enter your date of birth to find your Chinese zodiac animal and element, your star sign and your life path number.