Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.  Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. The festival is traditionally a time to honor deities as well as ancestors.

January 29, 2025 through February 16, 2026 is known as The Year of the Snake, more specifically the Wood Snake. The Snake represents wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, intuition and creativity. Snakes are also associated with good luck, prosperity, fertility and longevity. The Lunar New Year begins on the new moon closest to the midpoint of the winter solstice and the spring equinox, which this year occurs on January 29 and ushers in a year of rebirth, an opportunity to move away from old ways and habits that no longer serve us well.   

The Wood Snake is a combination of the snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac, and the wood element. This unique pairing of the snake, known for its wisdom and transformative energy, with the wood element, symbolizes growth, stability, and creativity. This Wood Snake year will likely be more creative and innovative than previous Snake years, which include 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013.  Those born in the Years of the Rat, Monkey, Rooster, Horse and Dragon should experience good luck in 2025.

Ideas for celebrating the Year of the Wood Snake:

• Cleaning and Family Reunions: The evening preceding New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. Traditionally, every family would thoroughly clean their house, symbolically sweep away any ill fortune to make way for incoming good luck. Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together. Celebrate with special meals, offering prayers to ancestors, and bonding over traditional dishes like dumplings and fish, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
• Windows and doors may be decorated with red paper-cuts and couplets representing themes such as good fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity.
• Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red envelopes.
• Wear snake gaiters to protect your lower legs when working, hiking, hunting or recreating in the desert or woods where rattlesnakes, copperheads and other venomous snakes are known to live.

The Year of the Wood Snake is a time for steady growth, creativity, and transformation. Whether you’re born in this year or are simply under its influence, 2025 offers a chance to reflect on your goals and nurture both your personal and professional lives. With patience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to embrace change, you can harness the positive energy of the Wood Snake and achieve new heights of success and happiness!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 7,000-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States each year. On average, five will die. Snake season is typically mid-March to mid-November. During the colder months of the year, snakes experience a form of hibernation called brumation. So why worry about North American pit vipers such as rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins in the winter?  Bites actually can happen at any point. Snakes will occasionally wake up throughout the winter, especially if it’s warm and sunny, or if there is an earlier spring. They will get something to drink, spend time in a sunny spot, and then go back into their den. In southern states where the weather is much warmer year-round, snakes are always active. So it’s important to be aware of your surroundings no matter the season— as well as wearing snake gaiters to protect lower legs.

What to do if bitten by a venomous snake. The first step you should take after a venomous snakebite is to stay calm. Don’t panic. Your goal should be to seek immediate medical attention. Most hospitals have the resources and expertise to be able to get you through it. The next step is to note the time the bite happened and remove any jewelry or clothing that may cover or restrict the extremity. If possible, call 911 for an ambulance, or have a friend or family member drive you to the hospital. It is better to get care closer to the time of the snakebite, but the main goal is to get treated soon after being bitten by a snake. Elevate the bitten extremity at heart level or higher to help decrease swelling.

What not to do if bitten by a venomous snake. After being bitten by a venomous snake, do not try to kill the snake or capture the snake. It is imperative to remember that the snake is afraid and is trying to get away from you. There is no need to waste time trying to harm or capture the snake.  The most important step you can take is to get to the nearest health care facility so health care personnel can treat the wound. Contrary to some misinformation about treating a snakebite wound, victims should not cut the wound, try to suck the venom out of the wound, or use alcohol in an attempt to treat the wound. Do not apply heat or ice or use a tourniquet on the affected extremity. Do not drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages or take any drugs or medication prior to seeking care for the bite.

Symptoms of venomous vs. non-venomous bites. For individuals who may not know if they were bitten by a venomous or non-venomous snake, look out for these symptoms: within the first couple of hours after a venomous snakebite, the individual will often develop significant pain while trying to use the bitten extremity, and the individual will develop a fair amount of swelling and bruising.
Non-venomous bites are localized wounds that may have a small amount of tissue damage. With non-venomous bites, wash the bite with soap and water and observe it over the next 24-48 hours to make sure there are no signs of infection such as spreading redness or foul-smelling drainage. If there are signs of infection, make an appointment with a health care provider.

Treatment. While different health care institutions may have their own protocols for venomous snakebites, there are general steps that each institution will take to treat the bite. Early phases of care include  bloodwork so the physician can determine whether the venom has gotten into the bloodstream, wound measurements, providing pain relief, and assessment for systemic symptoms. Health care providers will then observe the bite for any signs of rapid onset pain and symptoms of bruising, swelling and limited limb mobility. Patients could be evaluated by a medical toxicologist who coordinates care in conjunction with the admitting physician. Once patients have been stabilized with antivenom, they are usually admitted overnight for observation. Some form of treatment may continue after discharge depending on the severity and circumstances.