Auspicious 10/10/10 date registered

• Source: Global Times
• [08:27 August 09 2010]
• Comments

Couples queue last year to register their special day for September 9, 2009, an auspicious date for marriage. Photo: IC

By Zhou Ping

More than 100 couples have already registered to tie the knot on the most "perfect" day, October 10, 2010, which this year falls on a Sunday.

The 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th millennium year in Mandarin is related to a traditional Chinese idiom shi quan shi mei, meaning "perfection in everything," which is why many soon-to-be-wed couples have their hearts set on the date.

Local marriage registration authorities will therefore keep their doors open on this day, said Zhou Jixiang, director of marriage management for the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs, the government body responsible for marital affairs in the city.

"Many young couples like to pick wedding days that have meaning," he told the Global Times Sunday. "They want a day that is special and full of meaning as they see marriage as one of the most important moments in their lives."

"In order to make their dreams come true, all marriage registration places in the city will work on October 10 this year," he added.

Zhou said that he further expects this number to climb next month, when the department launches an online registration system intended to provide couples with greater convenience.

Auspicious days that only come around every once in a blue moon are very popular amongst Chinese.

On August 8, 2008, which in Mandarin is pronounced similarly to fa, meaning "prosperity," some 7,189 couples registered for marriage. Previously, on September 9, 2009, which sounds like jiu in the Chinese language, meaning "forever," some 8,852 couples were married.