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Why did old people advise not giving birth to boys in August and girls in December? What will happen to children born in these two months?

Every parent wants the best for their child, even when it comes to choosing their birth month. Why did our ancestors fear giving birth to sons in August and daughters in December?

Administrator

28 February, 2024

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In folklore, the season of birth is believed to have an influence on a person’s destiny, which is why the term “season of birth” exists. In practical life, giving birth at an auspicious time is better for both parents and children. Speaking of the season of birth and the timing of birth, there is a saying in folklore that boys should not be born in the eighth month and girls should not be born in the twelfth month because babies born during that time are not auspicious.

What happens when a boy is born in August?

In ancient times, in agricultural life, August was the month of harvest. So it was a busy time. In the past, men were the main workers in the family, and women stayed at home doing housework. When the rice was ripe, it needed to be harvested quickly without being affected by storms, otherwise it would be a lost harvest, leading to famine. Therefore, boys born in this month are considered an omen of hardship and suffering.

Furthermore, being born in August means being born at a busy time, so the child will not receive careful care. August is also the time of strong sunshine and hot air. People used to believe in the five elements of yin and yang, so boys are considered strong yang energy, and being born in August with strong yang energy is not good for their future health and fortune. Therefore, boys born in August are considered a birth defect, not following the season.

What happens when a girl is born in December?

December is a month of cold weather and cold rain, and it is also the lunar New Year month. In the past, there were many activities in December, such as funeral rites, birthday celebrations, and New Year festivities, requiring a lot of preparation, such as embroidery, sewing, cooking, etc. Therefore, women in the house were extremely busy and tired, working in the cold.

Therefore, girls born in December are considered a sign of hardship. Moreover, if they are born in December, both the mother and the women in the house are very busy, so it is difficult to take care of them properly. Girls are sensitive and hygiene needs attention, and being born in the cold season makes them even more prone to illness. So in the past, girls born in December had a difficult fate, unable to overcome the cold.

Furthermore, December is a cold month, so yin is predominant, while girls are inherently yin, so that is not good in terms of the five elements.

What about modern times?

Some statistics show that the season of birth is related to the health of children. For example, children born in cold seasons will crawl later than those born in hot seasons because they wear more clothes and move less… In reality, the season and month of birth have an impact on children. For example, when a family is busy during a certain season, the children will not receive much care, and the weather also affects the care and development. Babies born in extremely hot or cold weather are both not good because they will have a hard time adapting to the environment.

However, modern life has many supporting devices, such as air conditioning for hot December days and electric fans for August. Clothing nowadays is diverse. The allocation of labor between men and women today is also different. Therefore, the saying that boys are born in August and girls are born in December is no longer a complete concern as it used to be.

Birth timing has a big impact on both parents and children, so you need to calculate how to have a child at a favorable time when parents can rest and have good health, when parents are financially stable and mentally prepared.

This information is for reference and contemplation purposes only.

Frequently asked questions

August was the harvest month in ancient agricultural times, a busy period for families. With men as the primary workers, a boy born during this time signified hardship and suffering. Additionally, the strong yang energy of August, according to the belief in yin and yang, was considered detrimental to the future health and fortune of boys.

December, being a cold and busy month with various activities, was considered unlucky for girls. The belief was that girls born during this time would face hardship as the women in the household were already tired and busy with preparations, making it difficult to provide proper care. The cold season, along with the predominant yin energy, was also believed to impact the health of girls, who are inherently yin.

While some statistics suggest a link between the season of birth and children’s health, modern life has rendered these beliefs less concerning. With the availability of supporting devices like air conditioning and electric fans, diverse clothing options, and a more balanced division of labor between men and women, the impact of birth timing on parents and children is not as significant as it once was.

Birth timing can still influence the level of care and attention a child receives, depending on the family’s busyness and the weather. However, modern conveniences and societal changes have lessened the impact of traditional beliefs. Parents can now better plan and prepare for a child’s birth, considering their rest, health, financial stability, and mental readiness.