Lunar New Year: The Year of the Snake

Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of The Snake

Hello WiNK! It’s been a while since my last article, but after my long, brain-storming break, I have returned! Did you miss me?

This year, Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is on January 29th. If you are reading this, don’t worry! Although the first day has already gone by, this holiday is celebrated for 16 days, so you still have plenty of time to party! 

In Chinese Astrology, there are 12 zodiac animals, each representing one year in the Chinese calendar, making up a cycle of 12 years (so each year is a different animal, you get it). According to legend, ancient people appealed to the Jade Emperor, the ruler over the Heavenly Court of gods and goddesses who cared for everything that happened on Earth, asking for a way to keep time. The emperor agreed to help, decreeing that there would be 12 years to each cycle, and to make it easier for everyone to remember, he would select 12 animals to represent these years. He announced that a river-crossing race would be held on his birthday and that the first 12 animals to cross the finish line would be honored as the zodiacs. And so the race was held! This was the order of the winners:

1. Rat
2. Ox
3. Tiger
4. Rabbit
5. Dragon
6. Snake 
7. Horse
8. Goat
9. Monkey
10. Rooster
11. Dog
12. Pig

And so that was that! Depending on the year you were born, you were said to have certain luck, as well as certain traits. I was born in 2008, so I was born in The Year of The Rat. According to chinesenewyear.net, “Rats are cheerful, sociable, and tenacious people, who thrive as part of a group. This intuitive, versatile, and quick-witted zodiac values security in all areas of life, which affects their choices in love and career.” Wow! This is pretty accurate! OR SO I THOUGHT. APPARENTLY MY WHOLE LIFE IS A LIE BECAUSE I WAS REALLY BORN IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG DUE TO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR START AND END DATES?!?!?!?! I am honestly in shock. “Pig is cool-headed and capable in any situation, detail-oriented, intelligent, free-spirited, and a little too generous. They’re passionate and enthusiastic, well-liked by friends who’ll be there for Pig unconditionally because Pig was there for them.” THIS IS A LITTLE TOO ACCURATE GUYS. I don’t know how to feel. I think I will choose to be “on-the-cusp” of pig and rat to end my Chinese Zodiac identity-crisis because I was born on January 1st. I think I can relax…

Mrs. Thaler, WiNK's leading lady, was born in The Year of The Tiger. “Tiger is a brash, passionate, and confident leader with a keen sense of adventure. They are chivalrous and upright and will keep their word at all costs, making them trustworthy despite their apparently dominating charisma.” Is that accurate? Mrs. Thaler didn’t think so, but I’m sure we can all agree that she is very passionate about getting articles out on time! Wooster’s founder and first Headmaster, Aaron Coburn, was born in 1884, the year of the horse!  “Horse is confident, agreeable, and responsible, although they also tend to dislike being reined in by others. They’re fit and intelligent, adoring physical and mental exertion; they’re decisive but also easily swayed and impatient.” Huh! I wonder if this was accurate! His wife, Eugenia, was born in 1880, the year of the dragon! “Dragon is powerful, endlessly energetic and full of vitality, goal-oriented yet idealistic and romantic, and a visionary leader. They know exactly who they are and possess the keenest sense of self among the 12 zodiacs of Chinese astrology.” And that’s why I love Eugenia, Wooster’s mysterious mother. Speaking of Eugenia, we are getting closer and closer to more information every single day in the Archives…

This year is the year of the snake, more specifically the Wood Snake. So what does this mean? “Snakes are viewed with both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. On the one hand, venomous snakes are associated with darkness. But in Chinese mythology, snakes are also known as “little dragons,” and the skin they shed is known as “the dragon’s coat,” symbolizing good luck, rebirth, and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness. In Chinese culture, they are grouped with the turtle and crane as a symbol of longevity.” Looks like this year will be fearful but also full of good luck? Let's hope there's more luck than fear!

This past Wednesday during Chapel, everyone got the chance to write symbols of good luck and fortune using ink and brushes on red squares on special paper! Personally, I had SO much fun, and the presenters did a fantastic job!!! After Chapel, we all got to eat delicious chicken and vegetable dumplings for lunch, and everyone I spoke to told me they ate way too many because they were too delicious.

Personally, I think this Lunar New Year is off to a great start! Happy Friday!