The Complicated Practice Of Birthing In China

In varied countries all over the world, the birth of a child is a happening that brings the entire family together in happiness. In Asia, commonly in China, the birth of the latest addition to the family is indeed joyous yet is masked in superstition that dates back to the ancient civilization.

I am aware that when a child is born, we hurriedly congratulate the family and we shower the infant with praises and wishes. Unfortunately for the Chinese, that would be considered as disgracious and downright impolite! If Chinese superstition is to be believed, newborn babies are vulnerable to attacks of evil ghosts and goblins, thus the kid should be referred to in the vilest and most unfavorable words for his or her protection. I can imagine a satisfied dad telling his parents that his wife "just gave birth to the ugliest baby you would ever see in a hundred years," or hear a well-meaning aunt call your boy "monkey face" while smiling sweetly. The poor boy was just born and he has already received enough scorn to rival those he would get in middle school!

Understandably that is their folklore, and who are we to go against their cultural beliefs, but I am sure that when the time comes for me to have a boy, I'm making sure that it doesn't happen in China. Unless I can call the caretakers and surgeons "fungus face" or "fatty hag" just to even up the score.