The Wider Environment
Lots of little pigs
12/01/2007 11:55:40
Soon we will be entering the year of the Pig, whose august presence is interpreted within as heralding good fortune. And not only that:
According to Chinese folk customs, 2007 is the 'Year of Gold', one of the five elements, and also is the 'Year of the Pig', a sign on the Chinese zodiac. The pig is regarded as good luck for a good life. A 'Golden Pig' baby has the benefit of being born under two lucky signs.
Obstetrics and gynecology departments in hospitals are receiving rocketing numbers of women asking for pregnancy tests and examinations and the maternity, infant and domestic service markets are expecting a boost in business.
The last such lucky year was 2000, the year of the Dragon. A mini baby boom in that year means that lot’s of little dragons are now having trouble finding school places. But lots of little pigs could translate into good news for the economy:
There is only one “Gold Pig”year in every 60 years, and it is believed that a person born in the “Gold Pig”year will be blessed with great fortune all through his/her life. Thus many young couples are planning to have their babies in 2007, without knowing that their good will has also boosted the economy to grow.
The property market is perhaps the first to benefit from the baby boom, as most young couples usually buy housings before they plan to have babies. Take