People born in the Year of the Snake, are quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp and funny. They have excellent taste, are a good friend and generous and loyal to others.
There are many famous people born in the Year of Snake, including John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States who was born in 1917, the artist Pablo Picasso, who was born in 1881, and Audrey Hepburn, the British actress who was born in 1929.
Nu Wa, the creator of mankind according to a Chinese legend, was a half-woman, half-snake goddess. Having no legs, she had a snake-like tail and slithered in the sky. When an evil spirit smashed the vault of heaven, it was Nu Wa who patched the sky up with melting stone. She took up a handful of earth, mixed it with water and molded a figure in her likeness. As she kneaded it the figure came alive and became the first human being.
Other legends claimed that the snake is the earlier stage of dragon, the symbol of emperors and hence power and majesty. After living for 1,000 years, a snake will transform into dragon. Mencius, a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself, ranked the snake at the same level as the dragon in his work.
The Legend of the White Snake, or Madam White Snake, is another famous ancient Chinese tale. It tells the story of a white snake transformed into a woman and fell in love with a human man. After they got married and had a son, a Buddhist monk discovered her secret and trapped the white snake under a pagoda. But the gods were moved by the love between mother and son, husband and wife, and made the pagoda collapse, which enabled the family to reunite. Madame White Snake later became a symbol of beauty, love and freedom, and appears frequently in novels and operas.
The zodiac cycle was also used to tell time and direction in the old days. For example, the Rat symbolized the period between 11 pm and 1 am, and the Horse was between 11 am and 1 pm. For compass points, the Rat stood for north and the Horse was for south.
Some believe that people share a similar personality and character with the animal in which year they are born, and different zodiac animals are more compatible and should avoid others in certain years.
During the Year of the Snake, between Feb 10, 2013 and Jan 31, 2014, people who were born in year of the Pig, Tiger and Monkey tend to have bad luck. This is because those three animals are repellent to the Snake, according to Qi Yingjie, who runs a fengshui company in Beijing.
"People who were born in the Year of the Snake should be extremely careful," Qi said. "According to fengshui theory, people who bear the same zodiac animal of the year tend to suffer more disaster and damage."
Qi suggested people whose Chinese zodiac conflicts or clashes with the snake to go through a prayer session.
Every year around the Spring Festival, people gather in Taoism temples, such as Baiyunguan, the oldest Taoism temple in Beijing, to pray for peace and good fortune. They will send their messages to the gods by burning the yellow charms written with their wishes in the temple and offering sacrifices, usually fruits and candies.
"Or you could avoid bad luck by doing good deeds," Qi said. "Don't be fooled by the name, the Year of the Snake could be a very good year."
What is your zodiac animal?
Birth year from 1924 to 2019
Rat: 1924/1936/1948/1960/1972/1984/1996/2008
The Rat is quick-witted. They are confident and usually have good instincts. Very well organized and talented, Rat makes a good businessman or politician. They could be greedy, but also seek knowledge and welcome challenges. Compatible with Dragon and Monkey.
Ox: 1925/1937/1949/1961/1973/1985/1997/2009
Stubborn as they are, they prefer to live by their own rules rather than others'. The Ox is steadfast, a solid leader. But they are also protective and strong companions. Compatible with Snake and Rooster.
Tiger: 1926/1938/1950/1962/1974/1986/1998/2010
Tigers are daring fighters. As one of the most powerful Chinese Zodiac signs, the Tiger is authoritative, self-possessed and has strong leadership qualities. Compatible with Horse and Dog.
Rabbit: 1927/1939/1951/1963/1975/1987/1999/2011
Nobody would ignore people who were born in the year of the Rabbit. They are usually kind, sweet and popular. But sometimes they could be pessimistic, conservative and insecure, and that explains why most of them don't like change. Compatible with Pig and Dragon.
Dragon: 1928/1940 /1952/1764/1976 /1988/2000/2012
As the noble animal symbol that represents the Chinese emperor, dragons are born leaders and masters of ceremonies. They are idealists, perfectionists and good at giving orders. Compatible with Monkey and Rat.
Snake: 1929/1941/1953/1965/1977/1989/2001/2013
Snakes are born charming and popular. They are spotlight magnets, and are good with money. However, most Snakes are a bit tight when it comes to lending money. Compatible with Rooster and Ox.
Horse: 1930/1942 /1954/1966/1978 /1990/2002/2014
Horses are active and energetic. They enjoy traveling, and intimacy, a little bit impatient though. Compatible with Dog and Tiger.
Goat: 1931/1943/1955/1967/1979/1991/2003/2015
People born under this sign are the most creative. They are also elegant, charming and artistic. They can be lazy sometimes, but they will make a good craftsman or artist or writer and can confidently take up any career demanding artistic talents. Compatible with Pig and Rabbit.
Monkey: 1932/1944 /1956/1968/1980 /1992/2004/2016
If you go to a party, you'll find Monkeys at the center of attention. Their charm and humor is the key to their popularity. They don't hide their emotions. You can probably tell how a Monkey is feeling from miles away. Compatible with Rat and Dragon.
Rooster: 1933/1945 /1957/1969/1981 /1993/2005/2017
Though sharp, practical and resourceful, the Rooster also likes to dream. They are so straightforward that sometimes they hurt other's feelings without noticing. Compatible with Ox and Snake.
Dog: 1934/1946/1958 /1970/1982/1994 /2006/2018
They are wonderful companions only when they are in a good mood. When panic strikes, they could be defensive and picky. Compatible with Tiger and Horse.
Pig: 1935/1947/1989 /1971/1983/1995 /2007/2019
They are born to give, to yield and to serve. In relationships, they are sensitive and caring, but naive. The Pig also has a great thirst for knowledge. Compatible with Rabbit and Goat.
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