Indians and Chinese are equally superstitious. But some of
the traditional Chinese beliefs or superstitions when it comes to pregnancy are
really bizarre. I have been at the receiving end of many such pearls of wisdom freely
given by my Ayi (maid), my landlord, random people on the street or simply when
out shopping. All the more if they see you do something that they consider
taboo during pregnancy.
On sweltering hot summer days shopkeepers have taken away my
nice, cold strawberry milkshake saying it will mess with my yin and yang! My
air conditioning was constantly turned off by the Ayi chastising me for even
putting it on! Random people are wanting to touch your tummy and want to know
if it’s a girl or a boy, exclaiming how lucky I am to have a dragon baby!
Let’s start with the Dragon baby theory. Traditionally, the Chinese Dragon is an auspicious symbol of power,
wealth and success. Babies born in the Year of the
Dragon are said to have qualities similar to that of a dragon and are endowed
to become accomplished and successful. There, the stage has now been set for
the tiger mom. As if expectations weren’t already high enough.
Chinese communities across the world
experienced a baby boom in the year 2012. In Beijing, data from the Municipal
Health Bureau showed that the number of newborns in 2012 in the city topped
220,000, marking the highest birth rate since 2007. Mind you, that is just in
Beijing! Typically we can expect a 5% increase in the number of babies being
born.
In Hong Kong, the Immigration Department
also forecast that more than 100,000 babies would be born in 2012, amounting to
6.6 percent increase compared to last year and beating a 47-year record. In
Taiwan, a total of 234,599 babies were born last year, marking a historic
ten-year high.
So I was among the many expectant mothers
in Beijing, even I was getting a little fed up of seeing pregnant women!
Some of the other superstitions are that
the husband should carry his bride over a pan of burning coals when entering
his home for the first time to ensure she will pass through labor successfully. A pregnant woman is advised to read good
poetry or inspiring stories, not to gossip, not laugh loudly, not look at clashing colors, or lose
her temper. Many Chinese women read nice stories before drifting off to sleep.
All the Grey’s Anatomy and Homeland episodes were obviously not to be watched
by me. Plus, try telling my hormones about bad temper.
Other ancient beliefs are regarding the
food Chinese women eat during pregnancy. It's believed that if a pregnant woman
eats food that's not properly mashed or cut, her child will have a ‘careless
disposition’. And she is advised to eat light colored food for a fair-skinned
baby. Here is a secret we Indians will be happy to know.
Also, pregnant women are told never to attend funerals. Some Chinese women may sleep with knives under their bed to scare
away evil spirits. For the same reason, a piece of paper cut to resemble a pair
of scissors is sometimes hung from bed curtains.
The Chinese also believe it is unlucky to
throw a baby shower for an unborn baby. The expectant mother's own mother buys
the child's entire layette. The maternal grandmother sends a package of
clothing a month before the baby is due. The ritual is called called tsue shen,
or hastening the delivery. There is a white cloth inside the package with which
to wrap the newborn. And it is usually the husband’s mother who helps with the
delivery and during the first month, known as the ‘sitting month’. It could
very well be called the stinking month because during the first month Chinese mothers
are not allowed to take a shower. Reason being: they are very susceptible to
cold and fever.
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