Figuring out the best date for tying the knot
By Lu Feiran |
May 21, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE and more young people in Shanghai figure they should tie the knot on a date with auspicious numbers.
So yesterday proved a busy day for marriage registration offices as more than 1,730 couples queued to get their marriage certificates - six times the usual number, officials said.
As the numbers "5," "2" and "0" sound similar to "I love you" in Chinese, the date May 20 was popular among couples wanting to express their feelings.
But money appears an even bigger attraction than love for Shanghai couples. According to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, Wednesday - May 18 - was even more popular, with more than 2,210 couples tying the knot.
The numbers "5," "1" and "8" sound similar to "I'm going to make a fortune" in Cantonese.
Many couples reached registration offices before 8am yesterday, and by 9am long queues had formed. Offices in the Pudong New Area and Yangpu District received the most couples.
One woman surnamed Lin, who married yesterday, said she and her husband had prepared for their big day for a long time. "We both believe that today is a good day, as it represents our pledge of love," she said.
Choosing a day with auspicious number has become fashionable since 2008.
In the past three years, the three peak dates for marrying have been: August 8, 2008; September 9, 2009; and October 10, 2010.
These sound similar to "fortune," "forever" and "perfect in everything" respectively.
And this year, the biggest peak for marriage registrations is expected to fall on November 11, which sounds like "loving with all one's heart and soul."
So yesterday proved a busy day for marriage registration offices as more than 1,730 couples queued to get their marriage certificates - six times the usual number, officials said.
As the numbers "5," "2" and "0" sound similar to "I love you" in Chinese, the date May 20 was popular among couples wanting to express their feelings.
But money appears an even bigger attraction than love for Shanghai couples. According to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, Wednesday - May 18 - was even more popular, with more than 2,210 couples tying the knot.
The numbers "5," "1" and "8" sound similar to "I'm going to make a fortune" in Cantonese.
Many couples reached registration offices before 8am yesterday, and by 9am long queues had formed. Offices in the Pudong New Area and Yangpu District received the most couples.
One woman surnamed Lin, who married yesterday, said she and her husband had prepared for their big day for a long time. "We both believe that today is a good day, as it represents our pledge of love," she said.
Choosing a day with auspicious number has become fashionable since 2008.
In the past three years, the three peak dates for marrying have been: August 8, 2008; September 9, 2009; and October 10, 2010.
These sound similar to "fortune," "forever" and "perfect in everything" respectively.
And this year, the biggest peak for marriage registrations is expected to fall on November 11, which sounds like "loving with all one's heart and soul."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
