Sunday, February 10, 2013

2013 is the Year of the Snake

Photo via ukhomeoffice
This weekend is the mark of the Chinese New Year. 2013 celebrates the year of the snake. According to the ancient Chinese, having a snake in the house is a good thing and means that your family will not starve. If you are a snake in the Chinese zodiac, then you are characterized by being intelligent, private, vain, vicious, and putting value on material possessions. If you were born during one of the following years, you are considered to be a snake by the Chinese zodiac.


  • 1929
  • 1941
  • 1953
  • 1965
  • 1977
  • 1989
  • 2001
  • 2013

In honor of the Year of the Snake, here are some interesting snake facts.

  • Some snakes deter predators by flipping around on their back when they are in danger and releasing a stinky substance from their anal glands. Yep, snakes have anal glands!
  • Snakes can have over 300 pairs of ribs.
  • Snakes smell with their tongue. A snake's tongue is forked to allow them to decide which side the smell is stronger on. This helps them to locate their prey better. 
  • Although snakes have teeth and fangs, they do not chew their food. Instead, they swallow it whole. They use their fangs to hold their prey still when consuming it. 
  • Some snakes lay eggs. Others keep their fertilized eggs inside of them until they hatch, giving birth to live babies. 

Photo via Matt Cunnelly
Some people keep snakes as pets. Some of the most popular types of snakes kept as pets are the corn snake, ball python, California king snake, milk snake, and boa constrictor. For anyone who is considering taking on keeping a pet as a snake, be forewarned that they are very high maintenance!

I have mostly worked with ball pythons, corn snakes, and king snakes. Only once did I ever have a poor experience with a snake, in which it bit me. However, the circumstances were perfect for the occasion and I can hardly blame it on the snake. You can read my snake bite experience here. 

So are any of you considered snakes in the Chinese zodiac? Not me... I'm a rat! Who would have thought? Hehe :)

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18 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 10, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    Happy Chinese New Year. May the snake bring you only good things. Have a super Sunday.
    Best wishes Molly

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hailey and Zaphod and their LadyFebruary 10, 2013 at 12:37 PM

    Happy New Year! Lee and Phod

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 10, 2013 at 12:55 PM

    My mummy was going to get a snake once buts we couldn't gets one because of family problems :( Maybe next year!!! Happy Chinese new year :D
    Love Milo :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2013 at 12:58 PM

    OMG! Snakes just totally freak me out! If one sneaks on my property, it's a dead one. Eeek! I have nightmares over em too! Ugh, thankfully, I'm not a snake. I think I'm a monkey! hehe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnnStaubFebruary 10, 2013 at 4:41 PM

      Snakes are OK... there are a couple on my property here but I don't have the heart to kill them lol. And if they were poisonous I would just be too scared hehe. My oldest daughter is a monkey.

      Delete
  5. Lakeland adventures with Lola and MiloFebruary 10, 2013 at 3:40 PM

    Happy Chinese New Year, Dad's held snakes I've never seen one though.

    Sheba.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brian's Home BlogFebruary 10, 2013 at 3:48 PM

    YIKES! Happy New Year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Life with WrigsFebruary 10, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    None of us are snakes in our household. (After reading the description, I'm glad!) :-)

    We have lots of wild snakes here, and in the warmer months, Wrigs and I have to keep our eyes open for rattlesnakes. We usually have at least a few encounters each season. A couple of years ago, a black-tailed rattlesnake paid a visit to our front porch. Our local fire department captured it and relocated it. I enjoy seeing snakes, appreciate all they do for us in terms of rodent control, and believe in peaceful coexistence. Read your snake bite story. Ouch!

    Susan and Wrigs

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    Replies
    1. AnnStaubFebruary 11, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      I don't think I've ever seen a wild rattlesnake before - scary! I have seen water moccasins though. Texas has all 4 of the venomous snakes found in North America. I hope I am never bitten by a snake again, but it was an interesting experience.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2013 at 5:35 PM

    Happy Chinese new year! I'm a dog.. heh.. who would have figured that? Did you know that cats mimic snakes by hissing? =^..^=

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  9. Talking-DogsFebruary 11, 2013 at 3:31 AM

    Happy Chinese New Year! We'll pass on the snakes in the house thing...

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    I'm an ox - and mom is a monkey bol... Happy chinese new year!

    ReplyDelete
  11. GizmoGeodogFebruary 11, 2013 at 1:28 PM

    Ann, that's a beautiful snake...There are lots here of course, but the only ones that worry me are the cotton mouths...they seem aggressive...the others seem to adopt a live and let live attitude

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2013 at 2:47 PM

    I like snakes... from a distance. I'm a horse and my granny is a dog in the Chinese Astrology :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 3:40 PM

    We are not snakes here nor do we have any in the house. But what about the one that lives in our backyard? Does that count for anything?

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 5:20 PM

    Happy New Year!! My little dude is a Snake (born this year!)

    ReplyDelete
  15. SageFebruary 11, 2013 at 8:01 PM

    No snakes here! Mom's a Monkey and I'm an OX. Who'da thought?

    ReplyDelete

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