Color the Snake

The Snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac, and it reached the finish line with a quiet bit of cleverness. In the legend of the Great Race, the Snake had no legs, so it wrapped itself secretly around the Horse's hoof to cross the river. Just as the Horse stepped onto the shore, the Snake slithered out and gave a little surprise. The startled Horse jumped back, and the Snake slipped ahead to take sixth place, right in front of it.

People born in the Year of the Snake are wise, calm, and full of curiosity. A Snake likes to watch and think before acting, and it often surprises everyone with how much it has quietly figured out.

When you color your Snake, follow the long, winding curves of its body. Those graceful loops are perfect for jianzhi (剪纸), the Chinese art of paper-cutting, where artists snip flowing shapes from folded paper for festivals. Try jade greens and shimmering golds along the scales, then add red around the design, the color of luck and the new year in China.