Life
5 Old Wives' Tales About Conceiving On Christmas — It's A Fertile Time Of Year
Because Christmas is just a few days after the winter solstice, it's connected to a long tradition of people finding meaning in the shortest day of the year. From the medieval celebration of the sun's rebirth to the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is an especially symbolic holiday for fertility and hope, two things that are essential to every couple trying to conceive. Even classic Christmas accessories like mistletoe, said to bestow fertility and good luck, inspire old wives' tales about conceiving on Christmas.
For example, the well-worn advice that you'll get pregnant once you stop stressing overlaps nicely with Christmas. You may spend most of December in a frenzy of gift buying, attending parties, and baking cookies, all on top of your normal routine, but as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, you can let all that stress melt away. Amazon isn't going to deliver any more presents. If you travel for Christmas, you're probably already at your destination. You've done what you could and that's good enough. Christmas is a perfect day for leisure, sitting around in your pajamas, enjoying a warm holiday drink, and getting busy with your partner in hopes of conceiving your own bundle of joy.
Besides the old wives' advice to relax, you've probably heard that female orgasm can improve your chances of conceiving. This is another reason why Christmas is a great holiday to conceive on. With everyone home from work, stores closed, and an opportune stretch of time between the morning's gift exchange and evening family dinners, you can take your time to reach orgasm. It's good for you and good for your pregnancy hopes. Beyond old wives' tales, there are many cultural traditions that weigh in on fertility at this time of year. Here's some of the best advice on conceiving on Christmas from around the world.
1Female Fertility Peaks Around Christmas, According to Chinese Medicine
In The Huffington Post, Maoshing Ni, a doctor of Chinese medicine, explained that, "according to Chinese medicine, seasons really do affect fertility... Male energy begins in the spring and peaks around June 21, the summer solstice. Female energy begins in autumn and peaks around Dec. 21, the winter solstice. This means that the most fertile seasons for males are spring and summer; for women, autumn and winter." So ladies, this is your time to shine (fertility wise) with a pregnancy conceived on or around Christmas Day.
2The End Of December Has Always Been A Festive Time
Coincidentally, Dec. 21 is also the usual winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Different cultures and religions have celebrated winter solstice throughout human history. That's why Christians chose it as the time of year to celebrate Christmas and Christ's birth (no one actually knows his exact birthday). So if you try to conceive on Christmas or the days before it, you might reap some good luck from your participation in a celebratory tradition that spans countries and centuries.
3Dec. 27 Or 29 Could Be Lucky, According To Hindu Belief
According to Babble, "A Hindu belief says that the numbers seven and nine are lucky in pregnancy," so if you don't conceive on Christmas, you may have better luck a few days later.
4Take Your Christmas On The Road To A Fertile Destination
If you really want to conceive on Christmas, it could pay off to have a "destination holiday" this year and visit one of these international sites notorious for lucky associations with fertility.
5Kiss Under The Mistletoe
According to Fertility Lab Insider, "The evergreen, holly, ivy, and mistletoe are all winter plants that symbolize fertility and lasting life. A kiss under the mistletoe was supposed to impart fertility on the couple." So while it may seem cliché, don't skip your date under the mistletoe this year if you're trying to get pregnant.
Check out Romper's new video series, Romper's Doula Diaries:
Watch full episodes of Romper's Doula Diaries on Facebook Watch.