Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Happy Year of the Wood Snake!

Happy Lunar New Year! So long, Year of the Wood Dragon! Welcome to the Year of the Wood Snake! I begin today's celebration with Lunar New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake explained | ABC NEWS (Australia).

We are saying goodbye to the Year of the Dragon and welcoming the Year of the Snake! What do you know about the Year of the Snake? What is the significance of the snake in Chinese culture and history and how do people in Asian countries celebrate the festival?
This is a return to form for me after last year's drum corps holiday. That written, the host's remarking that snakes are "dangerous and scary animals" that make him "run away screaming" inspires me to put a science spin on this entry with PBS Eons explaining How Snake Venom Sparked An Evolutionary Arms Race.

For some, the rise and spread of venomous elapids was just another challenge to adapt to. For others, it was a catastrophe of almost apocalyptic proportions. And we humans are no exception, because it seems that when elapids slithered onto the ecological scene, not even our ancestors were safe…
Fassscinating. Sssorry, couldn't resssissst.

I also couldn't resist revisiting how Disney celebrates the holiday. Watch Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession Returns to Disney California Adventure for the Year of the Snake from WDW News Today.


I observed "Eleven years ago, they had Kaa as their character for Year of the Snake" then asked "Anyone care to wager that Kaa repeats?" While Mushu repeated in the parade, Kaa still showed in the merchandise available in Shanghai Disneyland.


Disney's California Adventure opted for a snake coiled to form Mickey Mouse's head.

So, yes and no, but if anyone had taken me up on the bet, they'd have won. After all, I didn't ssspecify which park!

Enough of this year's fessstivities. It's time to conclude this post with the generic greetings I've recycled many times over.

Mandarin: Gong Xi Fa Cai/Xin Nian Kuai Le

Cantonese: Kung Hei Fat Choi
 
Hokkien (Fujian/Taiwanese): Kiong Hee Huat Tsai/Sin Ni khòai lok

Simplified Chinese: 恭喜发财 新年快乐

Traditional Chinese: 恭喜發財 新年快樂

Stay tuned for the Doomsday Clock.

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