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del.icio.us08/08/08 fraught with superstitions
BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS
The Wichita Eagle
Perhaps you thought lucky dates ended last year, after couples converged on Las Vegas to get married on 7/7/07.
But today a new lucky date has dawned -- 8/8/08 -- and will be marked with weddings, special birthdays and the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Eight is an auspicious number in many cultures, but especially the Chinese, says Jeff Tung, president of the Wichita Chinese Association.
The Chinese pronunciation for "eight" (ba in Mandarin and paat in Cantonese) sounds similar to the word for "prosperity" (fa in Mandarin and faat in Cantonese).
The more eights involved in a person's life, the belief goes, the better chance they have for luck and wealth.
"Eight is a very good word," Tung said. "It sounds like the word for wealthiness, so that's where the tradition comes from.... But it's just a myth, a superstition."
Even so, today is a popular wedding day for couples around the world.
Melissa Bauer, spokeswoman for wedding resource company the Knot, said more than 22,000 couples registered online for Aug. 8 weddings on TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. An average Friday during the summer wedding season has about 5,000, she said.
"Taking into account that August isn't as popular as June or July, and Friday is not nearly as popular as Saturday, this is a strong amount of weddings," Bauer said. "It's the most popular date of the summer."
Along with the good luck associated with the number eight, 8/8/08 is an easy date to remember at anniversary time. And when the numeral "8" is turned on its side, it becomes the symbol for infinity -- a fitting emblem for marriage.
The lucky number inspired China to officially launch the Olympic Games at eight seconds after 8:08 p.m. today, although competition in some sports started days ago.
In Wichita, Emma Black will celebrate what she called "the most important birthday of my whole life" when she turns 8 today.
"It kind of hit me a few months ago that it was 8/8/08," said Gretchen Black, Emma's mom. "So I said, 'We have to do something really special.'
"Usually I try to go all out for birthdays, but this one's even a little bigger."
This weekend, she'll throw a Hannah Montana-themed pool party for Emma and several buddies. But because Gretchen Black has to work today, Emma will spend her actual birthday with grandparents.
Emma has named Taco Bell as her special birthday lunch destination of choice. Grandmother Connie Morris said she'd honor the request.
Lucky girl.
Reach Suzanne Perez Tobias at 316-268-6567 or stobias@wichitaeagle.com.
