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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 08 Aug 2008 Title: Chinese couples rush to marry for triple eight -------------------- Beijing - Joy was written all over the faces of Sun Zhengbiao and Xue Jiaojiao after they tied the knot on Friday morning, the 8th day of the 8th month 2008. Chinese people are keen to tie the knot on an auspicious date. The number eight symbolises wealth, fortune and luck. "We decided last year to get married on 8 August," said Ms Jiaojiao, a secondary school teacher. She added: "It is such a lucky number and it's only once in a life time." Many people in China choose dates with the number to start a business, get married or give birth and some even pay extra to have it in their phone numbers or license plates. This year, 8 August will see the opening the Olympic Games in Beijing, giving it added cachet. Outside the marriage registry office in Chaoyang district, love was in the air this morning where dozens of couples queued to get their marriage certificates. Pink ribbons with balloons decorated on the gate and red banners congratulating newly-weds were put up on the wall for this special occasion. The office opened for business at midnight, said He Tieqing, spokesperson for the district's Civil Affairs Bureau. Large groups started coming to the office at 6am, two and half hours earlier than usual. So many couples were planning to tie the knot on 8 August that Beijing's marriage registries set up an on-line service to file paperwork in advance and speed up the process. More than 16 400 couples booked their marriage certificates on 8 August in Beijing, according to the Beijing Civil Affairs Office. "We chose this date because it's the opening of the Olympics. It's very memorable," said bride Tang Guinan. "We decided to marry on this day in 2003, when we were still in college." She said she had been pleased when Beijing won the bid to host the Olympics in 2001. On 8 August last year, 3 390 couples were married in Beijing, making it the second most popular date after 18 December, when 4 400 couples wed. Around the country, thousands of people were getting married on Friday; more than 5 000 couples registered in Shanghai, 3 300 in Guangzhou, 2 300 in Wuhan and 2 300 in Hangzhou, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said. Jiang Li, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs, said civil affairs bureaus should try to guarantee that all couples who wish to register on 8 August get their certificates. About 300 extra staff were added to helping the 18 marriage registration staff at Chaoyang's civil affairs bureau, where 2 418 booked registration, Mr Tieqing said. "It took only three minutes to register," said Ms Guinan. "The clerk checked our forms, gave us the certificates and congratulated us. Mr Tieqing said they will continue to work after the normal closing time of 6pm if there are still couples to register. "We will definitely make sure that every couple today will be registered." - BuaNews-Xinhua |
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