This column may contain strong language, sexual content, adult humor, and other themes that may not be suitable for minors. Parental guidance is strongly advised.
Its Christmas time, and what that means, apart from the orgy of material and carbohydrate consumption, is merry-making in all its forms. For some couples, making merry means, with apologies to Michael Jackson, to “give love on Christmas Day”—to each other. In more ways than one.
I’ve met couples who’ve made light of their once a year couplings at Christmas time; others joked about that trifecta of special occasions where sex was on the table: Christmas/New Year’s, birthdays and anniversaries. Whether uttered in jest or not, the festive season, encouraged by alcohol and the overall abundance of peace on earth and goodwill to all men, is evidently conducive to increased sexual activity. And there’s data to back this up—just consider the preponderance of September births, pointing to conception taking place in December.
Data compiled by Five Thirty Eight from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Social Security Administration, covering a ten-year period ranging from 1994 to 2014, reveal that nine out of the ten most common dates of birth in America are in September. With an average of 12,301 births per day, Sept. 9 ranks as the most common, with the estimated conception date possibly around Dec. 17.
According to thedailyviz.com, the data offered a few interesting highlights about timing and choices:
“People generally seem to have time for baby-making during their time off. Several of the most-common birth dates, in September, correspond with average conception periods around Christmas. Sept. 9 is most-common in this dataset, though other days in that month are close. Sept. 19 is second. Following a customary gestation period, many of these babies would, in theory, have been conceived on Dec. 17 and 27, respectively.
“Clearly, some people choose when they have their children. While they’re making babies during the holidays, many people aren’t really having them then. The least-common birthdays in this
dataset were Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Dates around Thanksgiving aren’t as common. July 4 is also at the bottom of the list. Conversely, Valentine’s Day ranks relatively high, as you can see in the graphic, as are the days just before a new tax year begins.”
Similarly, in the UK, more babies are born in September than in any other month, with the most common birthdate for England and Wales being Sept. 26, almost nine months to the date from Christmas Day. Clearly, there’s a lot of merry-making going on over the holidays, and I would imagine nary a virgin birth in sight come September, although virgin births have been known to happen.
Of course, it being the Christmas holidays is hardly the most scientific of reasons for the uptick in September births; other factors apart from culture surely have an effect on the date. Among the hypotheses put forward by a study on seasonality in conception and birth published in Obstetrics & Gynecology included, according to medicaldaily.com, deterioration of sperm quality during summer, seasonal differences in anterior pituitary-ovarian function caused by changes in the daylight length, and variation in quality of the ovum or endometrial receptivity.
Or just blame it on the holidays.
If you’re in for a Christmas treat between the sheets, you might want to know a recent survey in the United States and the United Kingdom revealed that the position most favored by men and women engaging in sexual intercourse happens to be doggy style. According to Dr. Ed, who conducted the survey, “we found that a little over 35 percent preferred doggy style. Missionary position was also a fan favorite, with nearly 23 percent of survey-takers picking this sexual position. What is it about doggy style that keeps the majority of respondents coming back for more?
“Doggy style allows for deeper penetration, which means a better chance of reaching the coveted G-spot. Almost 20 percent of respondents admitted to having a soft spot for the cowgirl position. While this position also offers deeper penetration, it gives women a little more control over speed, depth, and rhythm of motion. Other preferred positions included 69, reverse cowgirl, and oral sex.”
It’s interesting to note that doggy style was the preferred position for both male and female respondents, whether straight, gay or bi. Also interestingly, cowgirl was ranked second among preferred positions for men, while for women it was missionary in second place. “… [M]en were more inclined toward the cowgirl position, while women picked the missionary position as their second favorite. Both positions allow for partners to watch each other during intercourse, which can help create a deeper, more emotional connection during sex.”
In the event that your sex life is stuck in a rut and doggy-style, cowgirl or missionary don’t quite do it for you anymore, there is a plethora of other creative positions to try, which do require some visualizing before actually attempting to contort the bodies into the right permutations. Tabletop, anyone? Or Kneeling Wheelbarrow? And then there is, of course, Anal, a position not many people—apart from gay men—like to confess to trying, much less enjoying, but is apparently becoming increasingly popular among heterosexuals.
If you’re feeling adventurous, then perhaps there is no better time than now to “give love on Christmas Day,” in whatever position takes your fancy.
B. Wiser is the author of Making Love in Spanish, a novel published earlier this year by Anvil Publishing and available in National Book Store and Powerbooks, as well as online. When not assuming her Sasha Fierce alter-ego, she takes on the role of serious journalist and media consultant.
For comments and questions, e-mail b.wiser.ph@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in her private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Preen.ph, or any other entity of the Inquirer Group of Companies.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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