10-10-10: An auspicious day to tie the knot!

BEIJING - For Chinese people, the number 10 means “perfection in everything”. So, a huge number of betrothed couples are planning to tie the knot on Oct 10, 2010, or 10-10-10, in a bid to make their marriage a success.

Aug 8, 2008 or 8-8-8, which means “making fortune”, and Sep 9, 2009, or 9-9-9, which means “everlasting”, had seen a surge in the number of weddings that took place in China.

The marriage registry office in Shanghai said it has seen huge online bookings for marriage certificates.

Many young people view the date as auspicious because it implies the Chinese idiom, “perfection in everything”, officials told the Shanghai Daily.

Even time slots - from 10 a.m. to 10.20 a.m. - have been booked, according to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

“A good beginning is half the success,” said Alice Huo, who will be a bride on that day. “We believe that a good date will allow us a good beginning.”