2016 Year of the Red Fire Monkey commences on February 8

February 8, 2016, is the commencement of the Year of the Monkey. In particular, it is the year of the fire monkey, symbolized by the colour red.

A Hong Kong news outlet reported that some couples in China have delayed the birth of their child to coincide with the Year of the Monkey, as monkey children are said to be crafty, clever, and charming (The Bulletin, January 20, 2016).

Consequently, reservations for maternity beds in one of Beijing’s 72-bed hospitals has increased by 30% compared with this time last year. Wards are being renovated, extra beds are being added, and more medical staff are being hired. The purchase of fertility drugs and medications increased late last year too. Suppliers of baby milk formula, diapers, and related medications will directly benefit from a higher birth rate as well.

The Year of the Monkey is not the most favourable of the 12 Chinese zodiac years, but it’s ‘sandwiched between the Year of the Sheep and the 2017 Year of the Rooster (or Chicken).’ The Year of the Dragon is most fortuitous, but that won’t occur until 2024. The previous Year of the Dragon in 2012, symbolic of power and wealth, sparked a 2% increase in births across China.

However, birth years don’t always have a corresponding effect on fertility. In the previous monkey year in 2004 the number of births in China decreased by 0.37% due to the SARS epidemic that killed more than 600 people in mainland China. Even though the Year of the Goat last year was not favourable, the birth rate was not severely impacted.

With the announcement of the government’s two-child policy (instead of the one-child policy) in China, which commenced on January 1, 2016, couples are taking advantage of the coming year. This policy change could result in 3-6 million additional babies each year, starting in 2017, estimated Credit Suisse Group. However, the increasing cost of raising children in China may result in the number of couples having a second child to higher income earners.

MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

http://www.bendbulletin.com/nation/3921112-151/year-of-the-monkey-could-mean-chinese-baby?referrer=bullet7#

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