Year of the Snake
The Snake is sign number 6 of the Chinese zodiac. People born in a Snake year are traditionally described as wise, intuitive, discreet and elegant. Its fixed element is Fire, and each Snake year also carries the element of its year — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water.
Lucky and less favourable for the Snake
| Lucky numbers | 2, 8, 9 |
|---|---|
| Lucky colors | Black, Red, Yellow |
| Lucky directions | East, West, Southwest |
| Less favourable numbers | 1, 6, 7 |
| Less favourable colors | Brown, Gold, White |
| Less favourable directions | Northeast, Northwest |
Compatibility
| Harmonious trine (三合) | Ox, Rooster |
|---|---|
| Secret friend (六合) | Monkey |
| Clash (六冲) | Pig |
| Harm (六害) | Tiger |
| Punishment (刑) | Tiger, Monkey |
In your own animal year (本命年, Ben Ming Nian) tradition recommends caution — and wearing something red. Years of your clash sign also call for care.
Snake years and exact dates
The Chinese year starts at the Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. If you were born in January or February, check the exact start date.
| Year | Element | From – to |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Fire Snake | Jan 23, 1917 – Feb 10, 1918 |
| 1929 | Earth Snake | Feb 10, 1929 – Jan 29, 1930 |
| 1941 | Metal Snake | Jan 27, 1941 – Feb 14, 1942 |
| 1953 | Water Snake | Feb 14, 1953 – Feb 2, 1954 |
| 1965 | Wood Snake | Feb 2, 1965 – Jan 20, 1966 |
| 1977 | Fire Snake | Feb 18, 1977 – Feb 6, 1978 |
| 1989 | Earth Snake | Feb 6, 1989 – Jan 26, 1990 |
| 2001 | Metal Snake | Jan 24, 2001 – Feb 11, 2002 |
| 2013 | Water Snake | Feb 10, 2013 – Jan 30, 2014 |
| 2025 | Wood Snake | Jan 29, 2025 – Feb 16, 2026 |
| 2037 | Fire Snake | Feb 15, 2037 – Feb 3, 2038 |
Your Chinese animal is one part of your chart. See your lucky stones, colors, numbers and years from four traditions.
Get my free lucky chartFrequently asked questions
What are the lucky numbers for the Snake?
Popular Chinese astrology gives the Snake the lucky numbers 2, 8, 9 and the less favourable numbers 1, 6, 7.
What colors are lucky for the Snake?
Lucky colors for the Snake are Black, Red, Yellow; less favourable colors are Brown, Gold, White.
Which signs are most compatible with the Snake?
The Snake forms a harmonious trine with the Ox, Rooster and a “secret friend” pair with the Monkey. Its classical clash is with the Pig.
Other animals
Lucky numbers, colors and directions: popular Chinese astrology as compiled by China Highlights.