Notice lots of pregnant women lately? Especially pregnant Chinese women? There are so many people expecting this year or have already delivered. In China, birth rate have increased over 30%! Apparently, people think this is the year of the Golden Pig and it’s supposedly a lucky year to give birth. There are 12 animals in the zodiac cycle (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, Pig) and this is the year of the pig. There are also 5 elements (don’t know what they are) and were told this is the golden cycle. Therefore, this is the year of the “Golden Pig”! The Chinese lunar calendar and zodiac signs are a bit foreign to us so we’re not quite sure what all this means and why a golden pig is a lucky year.
Everywhere, there are symbols and signs and decorations announcing the prosperity of the golden pig year. Look around and you’ll see pregnant women everywhere. In China, many women choose to have C-section because of the one-child policy and they rather have surgery than to suffer the pain of natural delivery. We have heard reports that hospitals/delivery rooms are fully booked until the end of the year. One meeting at school, we were told and asked to be “patient with HR (Human Resource)” because 6 of the 8 women in HR are on maternity leave. At the CEO office, it’s like a plague, Richard’s secretaries keep getting pregnant and going on maternity leave.
However, in recent weeks we have been informed by various “experts” in the ancient Chinese systems that this is definitely not the golden cycle, but rather, the fire cycle! So what does that mean? This is NOT the year of the golden pig. It’s the ear of the FIRE pig! In other words, the perfect year to roast some pigs and have “cha shao” (Chinese BBQ pork). Yummm…
We are wondering whether this whole golden pig propaganda stuff is some kind of a marketing or governmental conspiracy? Why would the entire nation be misinformed and mistakenly believe that this is the year of the golden pig? Is “Fire Pig” an ominous year and government fear detrimental economic impact? Or perhaps, conspiracy in the baby industry? Yes, and perhaps 12 years from now, it will be a public “oops, this is really the year of the golden pig.” ha ha…
If the readers are curious to know, we’re not interested in having roasted pig for dinner or as a child. We will have one for a niece though, come September. 
Leave a Reply