The Luck O' the … Dragon?

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Want a child who will bring good luck to your family? Then better plan on having a baby sometime between January 23, 2012, and February, 9, 2013, otherwise known, according to the Chinese zodiac, as the Year of the Dragon.

The Scoop

Occurring once every 12 years, traditional Chinese beliefs hold that children born during the Year of the Dragon—the symbol of ancient emperors—possess special courage and wisdom. In a zodiac filled with rats, dogs, rabbits, and other ordinary creatures, babies born under the sign of the mythical dragon are also believed to carry with them good fortune—enough to spread to their entire family.

Past dragon years, especially the year 2000, saw spiking birth rates in China and other places with predominantly Chinese populations such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, media sources report. As couples try to sway fortune in their favor, experts say this year is likely to be no different.

Your Baby

Could your pregnancy plans use a little fire-breathing inspiration? You have until right around the first few days of May 2012 to conceive in order to deliver by the tail end of this auspicious year. And if you do, your new arrival will be in some very famous company. Other "dragon babies" include Susan B. Anthony, Sigmund Freud, Mae West, John Lennon, Bruce Lee, Keanu Reeves, Orlando Bloom, Colin Farrell, and Sandra Bullock.