Chinese Gallop to Separate New Babies From the Goats

A baby boom is being reported in China, the result of millions of couples deciding to have their permitted child before the inauspicious year of the goat begins in a month's time.

Husbands and wives up and down the country apparently made sure to conceive in time for the birth to occur in the year of the horse.

It is widely believed that the goat is one of the less auspicious signs in the Chinese zodiac. Those born under the sign, it is claimed, may have "bad luck all their lives".

The goat's association with nomadic pastoral culture may have something to do with the prejudice. The word also signifies sheep: an indication that both animals were regarded historically as "barbarian" imports from the wrong side of the Great Wall.

Getting the timing right is another hurdle for Chinese couples, who already face problems in starting a family unknown elsewhere.

Unless they have enough money to pay the eventual fines, they must limit their family to one child. If they work for a state organisation they must also ensure that there is room in the quota allocated to their "work unit".

Traditional attitudes towards goats and sheep are changing, however: mutton hotpot is now the most popular dish in chilly northern China.

And some smart couples see advantages in making sure their baby is born in the coming goat year. Fewer children will mean less competition for places at school, college, and eventually for jobs.

Others of a more superstitious mind point out that the character for goat, yang, is used in several auspicious combinations, including xiang, which indicates good fortune.

It is not clear whether the Xinhua news agency's report yesterday that maternity hospitals were packed with women waiting to give birth before January 31 was based on hard statistical evidence.

Tall tales about zodiac signs enjoy particular popularity around the time of the Chinese New Year and they are often cancel each other out.

When the year of the snake began in 1991 some Chinese said they would avoid eating snake meat so as not to incur bad luck. Many others sought it because snakes are thought to be exceptionally clever.