Year of the Golden Pig – Pig Olympics and Babies
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China is all a-buzz with the upcoming Olympics next year with pre-sports events raging across the nation. The creme de la creme of swimmers from all over the country took part in the China Golden Pig Sports Game with highly-trained pig athletes in Ningxiang, central China’s Hunan province last weekend.
Photo Reuters
Farmyard porkers competed in events such as running, swimming, jumping and eating. They sprinted, jumped hoops and dove 6 feet into water from diving boards. At the end of the competition, 3 top pigs were garlanded with medals on-stage by children.
Year of the Golden Pig
According to ancient Chinese custom, we are in year 4705 of the Chinese calendar, marking the Chinese lunar year known as the ‘Golden Pig Year’ — or ‘jin zhu nian’ in Chinese which began on February 18th. Such a year comes only once every 60 years and is said to be auspicious for prosperity, fortune and good health, especially for childbearing.
Although called ‘Chinese’ New Year,’ other Asian countries celebrate the holiday as well. In Vietnam, the lunar New Year is called Tet.
Baby Boom
The particularly propitious year has spawned a baby boom in China, where city-dwellers are only allowed one child. Many have planned their pregnancies around the Year of the Golden Pig in hopes of the most auspicious births.
A newborn bathes at a maternity hospital in Shanghai, where it’s believed
swimming with the aid of a rubber ring calms the babies. Photo Louisa Lim / NPR
“They say children born in the year of the pig will be especially intelligent and healthy, so everybody is rushing to have babies this year.” says Bao Huiyuan, expecting her first child in June..
The city’s maternity beds in Shanghai’s hospitals are booked solid until March.
The city government is warning women to avoid getting pregnant this year. As Huiyuan points out, these piglets will compete for hospital beds and go on competing throughout their lives — for school places, university places and eventually, wives.
“Both adults and children believe pigs are a lucky symbol, which bring fortune and wealth. Their plumpness means prosperity.” said Wu Ying, brand manager for Tenlow snacks in China.
Pigs have been banned from appearing in any ads on the state-run broadcaster CCTV, which has ordered major advertising agencies not to use pig images, cartoons or slogans “to avoid conflicts with ethnic minorities.”
More Pig Olympics
China isn’t the only one touting games for these highly intelligent porkers — Moscow, Russia also holds their version of an annual Pig Olympics, where they compete in 3 major events.
Photo AP
Competitions include the ‘footie,’ running the race track and swimming, organized by the Sport-Pig Federation, which are held every year. Competitors come from various countries including Africa and Ukraine.
The highly skilled pigs won’t end up on anyone’s plate — instead, they’ll breed a new generation of pig athletes
Photo AP
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Related stories:
Its a Pigs Life
Pig Races – Endearing Story Reveals Disturbing Find
Multi-Penised Six-Legged Two-Anused Piglet Born
Wow. That rubber ring is interesting. Talk about unique culture.
LMAO! What’s with the pigs that they always look so damn cute (despite the smell grrrr!)? My grandparents had pigs in their farm, but no Olympics. Talking about giving them ideas. He he!
Yes Djahna, they do live a culture very much different than our own.
I know! They’re so bloody adorable Mig! I don’t know what it is, because they’re certainly not the most beautiful creatures. Hehe, your grandparent’s farm may never be quite the same again
Was just sitting here reading this article while eating some bacon strips. Almost feel guilty. But, I guess the little porker I’m eating was one of the slow ones. Such is life.
Haha, that’s my problem as well if I stop to think what I’m actually doing
OMFG I LOVE PIGS LOL BUT THAT FAG WHO ALMOST DROWNED HIS PIG N DA 1 WHO SMACKED HIS ON DA BUTT NEEDS 2 B ARRESTED
Though the pigs are very dirty animals, the pictures shown change my opinion. They are so cute and small!
It’s been said by many who’ve owned pigs that they’re very intelligent creatures and make excellent pets, Barge
You can probably find out a lot doing a search on them as pets.
Pigs are so cute animal.I hope that you will agree with my idea. Because I was borned pig year.
I actually find pigs to be quite adorable, P
Wow… chinese babies are really cute. (Wanna bet that water baby turns out to win swimming gold medal in 18 years?)
Not so crazy about pigs, though… LOL!
You never know, Kelly, that’s the whole point of the baby boom going on there, all trying to bring luck to their kids being birthed during the year
I was actually in Hong Kong for the New Year celebration. The fireworks were spectacular but I was pregnant and everyone wanted to rub on my belly and tell me how special my baby was going to be. It was so cute.
The chinese beliefs and culture are quite amazing…..know that chinese are technically amazing..but this quite new thing…lets hope babies are born in this period
cute pigs! i was born in the year of the pig lol
weird baby thing though!