2025 is the Year of the (Rattle)Snake!
2025 is the Year of the (Rattle) Snake!
Snakes are taking center stage in 2025 – and the Ariat Texas Rattlers couldn’t be more excited. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. The Ariat Texas Rattlers do their best to shine at all points in time, but a little extra superstition can be fun now and again. We’re slithering into “our year” full-steam ahead: Here’s your guide to understanding the Year of the Snake – including background on the Lunar New Year, how the Ariat Texas Rattlers embody all the best qualities of our mascot no matter what time it is, and some tips on channeling the same energy into your own life!
What is the Lunar New Year?
We might have welcomed 2025 to Texas a little over a month ago now, but the traditional Chinese New Year is just getting started. Months in the Chinese calendar year begin with every new moon (hence called a Lunar year) – the first of which always falls sometime between January 21 and February 20. The first day of the 2025 Lunar New Year was January 29. It is an annual tradition to ring in the Chinese New Year with a two-week “Spring Festival” celebration that marks the transition from one year and corresponding Zodiac sign to the next. This tradition has remained an important part of Chinese culture for centuries. Even if you’re not a part of Chinese culture, there are many things to learn and celebrate about the Lunar New Year.
Symbolism of the Snake
The ancient Chinese Zodiac calendar is based on a 12-year cycle, with each of the twelve months associated with an animal from Chinese mythology. According to one Chinese legend, the twelve animals – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig – competed for their place in the Zodiac by running a race. Not having legs, the Snake had to get creative and think outside of the box in order to keep up with the rest of his competitors. In the end, the Snake secured sixth place by coiling around the Horse’s hoof to be carried to the finish line. Unlike some of the other animals such as the bold Dragon or energetic Horse, the Snake symbolizes calmness and introspection. The sign is known for being goal-and-detail-oriented, and excels at navigating and embracing change. In a nutshell, the snake represents:
Adaptation & Change
Cunning & Resourcefulness
Transformation & Renewal
Wisdom & Intuition
Year of the (Rattle)Snake
Just as a snake sheds its skin to make room for the next, better version of itself, the Ariat Texas Rattlers welcome all the changes and challenges that come our way. We don’t hold on too tightly to negativity, and instead are always looking forward to the next opportunity. We learn from every ride, taking every competition 8 seconds at a time with a sleek attitude of competitiveness and grit. It doesn’t take a special Zodiac year or calendar system for the team to live up to all of the best qualities of the Ariat Texas Rattlers’ mascot.
There are still a few months to go until we ring in the 2025 Teams Season, but already the guys have been stepping up to the plate to prove themselves across the individual circuits. Brady Fielder is the number one man in the Unleash the Beast tour, with Joao Ricardo Vieira, Claudio Montanha Jr., Daniel Keeping, Braidy Randolph, and Marcelo Procopio Pereira, and Callum Miller keeping regular appearances as well. Behind the chutes, an epic display of the Snake’s spirit of adaptability, wisdom, and transformation can be found in Brady Oleson. Oleson showed outstanding grit in navigating a bad injury that forced him into retirement last season, staying involved with the Rattlers every weekend even when he couldn’t ride. The team adapted skillfully to this change as well, finding ways to rally support for Brady and stepping up to ride across the board. Recently, it was revealed that Oleson would be stepping up as assistant coach — a role he has filled with grace and effectiveness, helping lead his team to their first Texas Cup victory of 2025 over the Austin Gamblers during UTB Houston.
What Can the Year of the Snake Mean for You?
The Ariat Texas Rattlers embodied all the best characteristics of the Year of the Snake before it was cool – and you can do the same! You can embody a Rattler by:
Trusting your instincts. The Rattlers ride with intuition, eight seconds at a time. You don’t have to be on the back of a bull to stay ahead of the clock! Trust your instincts to help you make quick decisions that keep you one step ahead in everything you do.
Embracing challenges and adapting quickly to change. Just as the Rattlers adjust to all sorts of unpredictable situations, you can stay cool to view challenges as opportunities. Start viewing changes as avenues for growth, adjusting to whatever life throws at you one step at a time.
Planning strategically. The Rattlers make calculated moves to stay in control of their rides. You can make an effort to think ahead, planning out your moves ahead of time to ensure success. Anticipating what could come next can help set you apart from whatever competition and challenge you face throughout 2025 – and the rest of your future!
Reflecting and learning from your experiences. The Rattlers reflect on all aspects of competition, taking note of what worked and what didn’t to improve with every ride. After each thing that happens in your life, you can reflect on what worked for you, and what places you can improve. This constant learning helps you stay sharp and keep moving forward at sleek, snake-speed!
Striking at the right moment. Aim to stay composed and think things through, especially in stressful situations. Channel your inner Snake, waiting to strike until the timing is just right.
We’ll always be of the opinion that hard work yields more results than wishing on astrological stars – but it’s fun to think about things like the Year of the Snake as long as we remember to relate its principals to our lives in practical ways. The Ariat Texas Rattlers are embracing all that 2025 has in store for us, no matter what comes our way!