Why the Year of the Snake is constricting festive decoration sales in B.C.

Sellers of Lunar New Year decorations in Richmond, B.C., say business is down because it's the Year of the Snake, a creature some customers find "scary," making soft toys, and cartoon character designs a tough sell. Decorative charms featuring snakes are displayed in a traditional market in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Huy Han

Cecilia Liang’s Lunar New Year decoration stall has been an annual fixture in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond, B.C., for 25 years — but she knew some products would be a tough sell this year.

With the Year of the Snake dawning on Wednesday, Liang and other decoration vendors say sales have slithered downward.

“Many people think snakes look scary,” she explained in Mandarin.

Lunar New Year designs often feature cute depictions of the year’s Chinese zodiac animal. But making a snake cute is a challenge, resulting an array of biologically inaccurate renderings.

There are snakes with long eyelashes, dewy anime-wide eyes, and even snakes with hands, all the better for waving out a friendly greeting.

“Among all the Chinese zodiac, selling snake-related craftsmanship is one of the most difficult,” said Liang, who added that the most difficult was the Year of the Rat.

Her two-week pop-up stall is crammed with festive red and gold offerings — stuffed toy snakes, wall hangings, plastic wind spinners, red pockets, door couplets featuring wishes for the new year, and god of fortune statues.

“Some parents would say, aiya (a Cantonese exclamation of dismay), I will not take snakes home,” said Liang, “But I will tell them — these snakes aren’t even real, and you don’t need to be scared.”

Yu Xiaopeng was waiting in line to pay for a $5 stuffed snake toy.

“I feel it looks pretty cute,” said Yu in Mandarin. “I want to give it to my nine-year-old daughter as a gift. It has been a family tradition for me to give a toy that represents different Chinese zodiacs to my daughter each year.”

Still, Liang knows that some customers won’t be convinced.

“I have ordered the right amount of snake-themed products this year. My booth isn’t just limited to snake-themed products, you can also find traditional themed couplets as well,” said Liang.

Carol Kang has had an annual Lunar New Year booth selling decorations in the nearby Aberdeen Centre for more than 10 years, and she’s also feeling a bite on sales.

“It’s hard for artists to design snake-related products. Many snake-themed decorations don’t even look like snakes,” said Kang in Mandarin.

She said sales at her booth were down 50 per cent compared to the same time last year — a much-anticipated Year of the Dragon, always one of the zodiac favourites.

“For many people — unlike the Year of the Dragon — the Year of the Snake isn’t that big a year for them,” said Kang.

She’s expecting a sales bump next year, the Year of the Horse.

Vancouver artist and designer Nicole Jang designed the Year of the Snake logo for the Canucks' Lunar New Year jerseys and merchandise.

Some other cartoony versions of Lunar New Year snakes are “too over the top … they almost look alien-like," she said.

“I don’t see why we can’t embrace the characteristics of these animals,” she said.

Jang’s version is more realistic by comparison, scaly with a forked tongue. It has a Chinese “shou” symbol on its face, symbolizing a prosperous, long life.

“It’s a little bit fierce-looking, but not like scary or too aggressive,” said Jang.

Animal decoration sales may be down, but business still looked bustling at the Aberdeen Centre’s crowded Lunar New Year market, where vendors were also selling flowers, festive clothes and traditional crafts.

Back in Yaohan Centre, Liang said she found most clients were willing to spend, but not as much as in years past. She said the fluctuations in sales aren’t just due to the snakes, but also the economy in general.

Nevertheless, Liang said she loved the chance each year to connect with clients and rejoice with the community.

“I am grateful that clients are still willing to spend money at my booth. I don’t have high standards, I am happy as long as everyone gets what they want to decorate their homes to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” said Liang.

“The happiness of life is not always about making tons of money, it’s about making our clients happy and that we stay healthy in the New Year.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2025.

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press