golden pig

happy Chinese new year!

according to an article in the Telegraph-India, this year is supposed to be super lucky for those born this year because the gold element is passing through the zodiac for the first time in 60 years.

"The following 12 months will be known as the Year of the Pig, during which anyone born is supposed to be easy-going and lucky. But, for the first time in six decades, it will also coincide with the year in which the element of gold passes through the Chinese zodiac and babies born in the Year of the Golden Pig are twice blessed.

The promising celestial combination has led hundreds of thousands of couples to 2007 as the year to have the sole baby they are permitted under China's rigid one-child policy, in the hope that their offspring will have double the normal entitlement to riches and a long life. In Beijing alone, 150,000 babies are expected this year, up from the 129,000 born in 2006."

a baby boom is predicted in Asia this year in efforts to reap this double-blessing. i'm expecting to see a lot of pregnant women walking around this year here in Hong Kong! although the practical, "Economics-major"-side of me believes that if everyone is planning on having a baby at the same time this year, this little Asian baby boom will result in even heavier competition for schools and jobs once all those Year of the Pig babies grow up. as though getting into good schools and jobs isn't competitive enough as is! i hear that even trying to get five-year-olds accepted into good elementary schools here in Hong Kong is highly competitive and tough. how will everyone's "luckiness" help them then if they're all in the same situation?