Chinese couples prepare for lucky Olympic wedding
Updated
Thousands of couples in Beijing are planning to get married on the opening day of the Olympics Games. Not only are the Chinese proud to be hosting the games, but the date of the Opening Day is very auspicious.
Presenter:Amanda Morgan
Speaker: Li Shaobing, professor at the Nankai University in Tianjin; Zhai Jianyong from the Beijing Marriage Management Bureau; Yang Hui, wedding organiser; Wang Zhemeng, prospective groom
MORGAN: The 8th August 2008 is an auspicious date on the Chinese calendar. The Beijing Olympics will begin… and at least 15-thousand couples will get married in the Olympic city… a record number.
WANG ZHEMENG: Many couples plan to get married on the opening day of the Olympics because it's a very lucky date in Chinese traditional culture.
MORGAN: Wang Zhemeng and his fiance have been dating for 288 days… they've registered their marriage for the 8th of August.
In Chinese culture the number 8 is highly significant.
Chinese people believe that the 8th August this year will bring them happiness and fortune, cause the date contains three 'eights'.
WANG ZHEMENG: In the past the number 8 wasn't popular. But now it means luck. From the 1980's it began to represent becoming rich. And now the number 8 is more popular.
PROFESSOR LI SHAOBING: The date has a monumental meaning for couples. Not only is it their wedding day, but it's also a big day for the country. So it's a good day to remember and celebrate.
MORGAN: Li Shaobing is a professor at the Nankai University in Tianjin, south of Beijing.
He says choosing an auspicious date is crucial for a successful marriage.
LI SHAOBING: Having a good wedding date is a big part of Chinese custom. Couples and their relatives believe a good date can bring luck, happiness and prosperity to their marriage and future.
MORGAN: Many couples registered the date for their Olympic wedding years ago.
And Zhai Jianyong from the Beijing Marriage Management Bureau says about two-thousand couples registered their marriage online… while others queued for hours to secure the lucky date… the 8th August.
ZHAI JIANYONG: According to Chinese law, a couple has a legal wife-and-husband relationship when they register their marriage. The couple can choose another day to hold their wedding ceremony. It's not limited to the registration day.
MORGAN: Many wedding organisers had been hopeful of a profitable Olympic wedding period… but have been disappointed.
Wedding organiser Yang Hui says the cost of weddings has increased by up to 30 per cent.
YANG HUI :Many people have registered their marriage for the 8th of August. But because of the traffic situation and the high costs during the Olympics, not many people are actually holding their wedding ceremony on that day.
MORGAN: Wang Zhemeng and his fiance have registered their wedding for the 8th August… but will hold their ceremony after the Olympics.
WANG ZHEMENG: My wife and I wanted to book a hotel a year before our wedding day, but some hotels were booked out two years before the Olympics. This is understandable, because so many couples want to get married during the Olympics. They believe it can bring luck and happiness to their marriage.
MORGAN: Zhai Jianyong from the Beijing Marriage Management Bureau agrees.
ZHAI JIANYONG: It's related to the good date and the Olympics. It's been a 100-year dream of the Chinese people to hold the Olympics. This date contains a lot of '8s' which is such a good number in Chinese tradition.
MORGAN: Many weddings will include an Olympic theme.
One couple will have 29 tables at their wedding ceremony… with eight guests at each table… representing the 29th Olympiad on the 8th August.
Another couple will dress like the Olympic mascots.
And wedding plans include flying 2008 balloons and lighting 2008 candles.
Also on the 8th August… thousands of Chinese women hope to give birth… to bring luck to their child's life.
At the same time, China is reporting a surge in the number of children named "Aoyun" after the Olympics.
Professor Li Shaobing says the rise in popularity of the name is seen as a sign of support for the Games.
PROFESSOR LI SHAOBING: People think there's a positive impact naming a child after the Olympics. This reflects the wish of the parents to bring luck and happiness to the baby.
MORGAN: But even when the Beijing Olympics have come and gone thousands of Chinese people will continue to celebrate the 8th August.
As people remember anniversaries and birthdays, the date will be recognised for more than just the sporting events surrounding the Olympics.
