恭喜发财! It's the Year of the Snake

 

Hello Tea Friends!

Mickey here! With the Chinese New Year having just gone by, I feel like I’m seeing snakes everywhere I go. You may ask, why snakes? Well, it’s the Year of the Snake! 

Snakes have charmed humans for as long as we’ve tried to charm them, their beady eyes and flicking tongues capturing the hearts of many for who knows how long. I personally have a love-hate relationship with the creatures… While they do fascinate me, I admire from a very safe and respectful distance.

Here are some morsels of snake trivia for you to sink your fangs into. Enjoy!

snake zodiac stamps inspired by folk murals designed by Pan Hu and Zhang Wang

 

The Snake Zodiac

If you’ve read my dog blog, you might remember the story behind the Chinese Zodiac and how it all began. For those who haven’t, a very simplified version is this; The order of the Zodiac animals was determined by a great race through various terrains. Where they placed at the finish line would be their spot in the Zodiac calendar. Snake was cunning and intelligent, but it knew it could never cross the river alone, so it hitched a ride on the horse’s hoof. As soon they both were across, it slithered right over the finish line, taking sixth place (and leaving Horse in seventh!) So, Snake became sixth in the twelve year cycle.

Interestingly, the animals in the Zodiac are tied into specific months as well as two hour periods of the day. 9:00am to 11:00am is considered the time of the snake, as it’s the time when they all slither out of their burrows. Or, in my case, when I finally crawl out of bed.

Much like our slithery friends, people born in the Year of the Snake are considered to be insightful and intuitive, making them sharp thinkers and excellent problem solvers. On the flip side though, they’re also thought to be stubborn and skeptical.

 

Snakes in Hisssstory (and Culture!)

Snakes hold a profound place in Chinese culture, history, and mythology, symbolizing both mystery and practicality. One well known figure is Nüwa, a goddess credited in a variety of Chinese religions as the creator of mankind. She’s depicted with a human head and a serpentine body, embodying creativity and protection.

There are many tales and folklore stories from China that involve snakes! They often appear in these tales as magical and otherworldly beings, many times with the trait of immortality or the ability to shape shift. A well known example of this is The Legend of the White Snake, a tale of a snake spirit who takes on human form and finds love, only to face tragic consequences. Poor thing.

 

Historically speaking, snakes also served many practical roles in Chinese society. They were valued as pest patrol, having a sort of symbiotic relationship with villages that valued them for their rodent catching abilities. Venom was harvested for weapons and poisons, while their other parts, like skin and meat, were used in medicines or as food. This made them a very valuable trade commodity. 

Scaly Remedies

I think this was by far my favorite section to research. Snakes come in all shapes and sizes, some toxic, some not. Those with venoms all have different varieties of venom and an even wider variety of symptoms attributed to them. I’ve always been told that “good medicine tastes bitter,” but I had never once considered that the venom that makes some snakes so dangerous can also be harnessed for healing in the right hands. (Full disclosure, though—I’m not endorsing anything here. Leave the experimenting to the professionals, okay?)

I find the way that people researched medicines in ancient times to be both efficient and a bit comical. In the case of the snake, they saw its ability to shed its skin and its agile, flexible movements, and then thought “I bet we could use that.” It became popular to use snakes in traditional remedies. The pit viper was (and still is) a common ingredient. These remedies could be used to address a variety of things, such as pain, skin diseases, and intestinal problems.

 

Agkistrodon and Zaocys are commonly used varieties of snakes these days. They’re still used in several traditional and patented treatments, especially for arthritis. One method of medicine making is done by soaking the snakes in alcohol to create an extract that’s applied topically, which is supposed to help with stiff joints. I’ve even seen people using the venom to try and cure different bodily issues, which frightens me a little! To each their own, though!

 

Renewal

 

 

Although this might be the Year of the Snake, the theme of rebirth and renewal associated with these slippery creatures is also deeply woven into Chinese New Year celebrations. A snake’s ability to shed its skin is a powerful symbol of letting go—discarding what’s no longer needed so you can move forward with strength and confidence. It’s also a testament to resilience: even after leaving a part of itself behind, the snake thrives and continues its journey.

During the Spring Festival, this spirit of renewal is mirrored in traditions like cleaning homes, settling debts, and embracing fresh beginnings. Much like the snake shedding its old skin, these practices symbolize clearing out the past to make space for the exciting new opportunities and experiences that lie ahead. Even in moments of uncertainty, we can take a page from our snake friends and see change as an opportunity to adapt and grow stronger.

The Silliest Snake I’ve Ever Seen

 

Just for fun, I wanted to share one of my favorite snakes to look at—mainly because it’s such a goofy little creature. Meet the Arabian Sand Boa, scientifically known as Eryx jayakari. I always forget the name, but the easiest way to find the fellow is to search up “stupid looking snake.” Native to the Arabian Peninsula, these snakes thrive in soft soil and sandy environments, where their unusual appearance helps them blend in.

Here’s a fun fact about them: Arabian Sand Boas are egg-laying snakes, but their young can’t hatch on their own! The mother snake has to break the shells to help them out. These delightful little guys are listed as “least concern” on the conservation scale, which makes sense. I mean… just look at them.

Since I’m not too keen on drawing feet on a snake, I’m going to go ahead and end this blog here! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little dive into snakes and the impact they’ve had on China over the years. I can’t deny my morbid curiosity about different venoms now though… Oh well, who needs sleep anyway? Back to the internet!

Happy steeping!

-Mickey