The craze for having babies in the year of the dragon.

Considered an auspicious animal symbolizing success, people in many Asian countries are trying to have children in the Year of the Dragon.

In early February, a renowned obstetrician and gynecologist in Taiwan shared a post on her personal page, urging couples wishing to have children in the Year of the Dragon not to waste time.

Dr. Chih Chun Chen, director of the Eugene Postnatal Care Center, also wrote an article advising young couples: "The 'seed planting' should be completed no later than May 15th of this year if you want to have a child in the Year of the Dragon. To achieve that, you must put in a lot of effort."

Cici Jiang, 34, from Taiwan, says she is thrilled to be expecting her son in March of this year. Jiang says she didn't plan to have a child in the Year of the Dragon, but many of her friends are planning to get pregnant.

"Everyone else who used IVF (in vitro fertilization) to get pregnant was excited to welcome a baby born in the year of the dragon into the family," the 34-year-old woman said.

Many young Chinese couples are planning to have a child in the Year of the Dragon, hoping their child will achieve success and good fortune in the future. Photo: Andy Wong/AP

February 10th marked the beginning of the Year of the Dragon according to the Eastern calendar. Among the 12 zodiac animals, the dragon is the only one that is not real, symbolizing good fortune and representing strength and prosperity. Those born in this year are believed to have good fortune and are likely to achieve success. This is even more significant in 2024, when many Asian countries are experiencing declining birth rates, leading to an aging population and predictions of catastrophic economic consequences.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated during a New Year's greeting ceremony: "Now is the best time for young couples to welcome a little dragon into their family."

Previous years of the Dragon have also seen a surge in births in countries that believe in the lucky symbolism of this animal, such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. A midwife working in Taipei, China, said that all of 2012 saw hospital beds completely full, with many women forced to give birth in hallways or share beds simply because it was the Year of the Dragon.

In Taiwan, 1976 also saw a significant increase in the number of newborns, with over 425,000 births, up from a crude birth rate of over 390,000 in the 1970s. This was a remarkable reversal despite the declining birth rate.

"Taiwanese people like to have children who are dragons," said Ihua Wu, born in 1976, because dragons are known as wise and powerful creatures in folklore.

However, in 2017, researchers in Singapore studied the experiences of people born in the year of the dragon in China and found that they struggled more than those born in other zodiac signs.

Tan Poh Lin, one of the study's authors and a senior lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said: "We found that those born in the year of the dragon tend to face weaker educational and economic prospects due to greater competition."

Similar to Tan Pon Lin's speculation, two professors, Naci H. Mocan and Han Yu of Louisiana University's National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), also believe that the surge in birth rates will lead to unfavorable outcomes for children.

"As economists, we naturally think that a rising birth rate will lead to more students in schools, teachers having to manage more people, and negatively impacting learning in practice. Not to mention, when these children enter the workforce at the same time, there will be more competition, and unemployment could even occur," expert Mocan said.

However, upon closer examination, the two experts found that children born in the year of the Dragon scored higher in higher education, had increased participation in university entrance exams, and a higher graduation rate. Mocan also discovered that families with children born in the year of the Dragon invested more time and money in education and healthcare.

"There's no scientific or biological explanation to suggest that people born in the year of the dragon are more successful. But they can tell you about the power of cultural beliefs," the expert said.

Many families in Asia are planning to have children in the Year of the Dragon, hoping for greater success and career advancement compared to other zodiac signs. Photo: Wu Hao/EPA

William Yang, a reporter in Taiwan, says he feels the social and cultural pressure to succeed is being placed on a child born in the year of the dragon, even though his family doesn't entirely believe in this.

"I was born in the year of the dragon, and I believe I will have a great life because that's my destiny. This thought has influenced my subconscious in the way I pursue things in life," Yang said.

But not everyone is superstitious. Lu Yuan, an education consultant in Hangzhou, China, is pregnant with her second child, due in 2024. Unlike many who plan to have a child in the year of the dragon hoping for a bright future, Yuan says she wants to have a second child when her family is financially stable. She insists she wants to have a child because it suits her circumstances, without considering the influence of the 12 zodiac signs.

Zhai Zhenzu, president of the China Population Association and currently a professor at Renmin University in China, also hopes for a surge in births in 2024, fueled by traditional beliefs. Discussions on social media in the country have also noted a clear increase in the number of people sharing their pregnancy plans. Numerous state statistics also show a surge in sales of pregnancy-related products, starting in late 2023.

Not only in China, but the Eugene Postpartum Care Center in Taiwan also reported an increase in bookings at reproductive health clinics in late 2023 and early 2024 compared to the previous year.

Minh Phuong (Based on The Guardian and Aljazeera )

Source: https://vnexpress.net/con-sot-sinh-con-nam-rong-4711165.html