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AUSTRALIA 
Couples flock to wed on lucky August 8
Friday, 8 August, 2008
Lucky number eight. Couples are flocking to wed on 08/08/08. (AAP)
Hordes of couples tied the knot across Australia today, hoping the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008 would bring them wealth, health and everlasting love.
In Chinese, the word for eight sounds similar to the word for "prosper" or "wealth".
The 8th day of the 8th month of 2008, chosen for the launch day of the Olympic Games in Beijing, signifies a particularly lucky day.
The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, which married a record 96 couples today, extended its opening hours so some couples could marry as early as 8am (AEST) and as late as 8pm.
Deborah and Marc Johnson from Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs, who got married in central Sydney at midday, said they immediately chose August 8 to get married after they were forced to postpone their previous date.
"I come from a Chinese family and my grandmother told me that eight is supposed to be a lucky number," Mr Johnson said.
"If you write the number eight it just goes on and on," said Ms Johnson. "There's just no stop to it. So that would be a symbol for eternity.
"If we get married on this day, that's hoping that we still stay together forever."
Irene and Ferry Lim, who have been together for six years and engaged for just over a year, said they chose today for their wedding because the numbers were lucky.
"It's also an easy number to remember," said Ms Lim. "We won't forget our anniversary!"
NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos told reporters it was "an important occasion for love and romance".
"I hope the eighth of the eighth is a particularly special day for each of those parties which are taking place," he said.
Of the 96 couples getting married in NSW today, 41 per cent were Chinese, while another 20 per cent came from other Asian countries, Mr Hatzistergos said.
In Queensland, the Brisbane registry's marriage room on George Street was so busy that some couples were shuffled across to the Hotel Conrad next door.
Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine said 13 celebrants would marry 33 couples, a record number of weddings for the Brisbane registry.
"It's double the number last year where we had 17 couples marry on 7/07/07," Mr Shrine said.
Two young Brisbane university students from Iran were among the couples to wed.
Alireza and Parisa, both 27, who declined to give their surname, said they originally wanted to marry at 8am but weren't quick enough to nab that highly coveted time slot.
Instead they made their vows at 8.30am.
"It's special for us ... and we hope it's a lucky day for us," Alireza said.
"We just wanted to marry on the eighth of the eighth month in 2008."
SA's Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Val Edyvean, counted 10 marriages today but said the registry had to turn many couples away.
"Certainly there has been much higher demand than usual," he said.
Source: AAP/SBS
In Chinese, the word for eight sounds similar to the word for "prosper" or "wealth".
The 8th day of the 8th month of 2008, chosen for the launch day of the Olympic Games in Beijing, signifies a particularly lucky day.
The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, which married a record 96 couples today, extended its opening hours so some couples could marry as early as 8am (AEST) and as late as 8pm.
Deborah and Marc Johnson from Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs, who got married in central Sydney at midday, said they immediately chose August 8 to get married after they were forced to postpone their previous date.
"I come from a Chinese family and my grandmother told me that eight is supposed to be a lucky number," Mr Johnson said.
"If you write the number eight it just goes on and on," said Ms Johnson. "There's just no stop to it. So that would be a symbol for eternity.
"If we get married on this day, that's hoping that we still stay together forever."
Irene and Ferry Lim, who have been together for six years and engaged for just over a year, said they chose today for their wedding because the numbers were lucky.
"It's also an easy number to remember," said Ms Lim. "We won't forget our anniversary!"
NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos told reporters it was "an important occasion for love and romance".
"I hope the eighth of the eighth is a particularly special day for each of those parties which are taking place," he said.
Of the 96 couples getting married in NSW today, 41 per cent were Chinese, while another 20 per cent came from other Asian countries, Mr Hatzistergos said.
In Queensland, the Brisbane registry's marriage room on George Street was so busy that some couples were shuffled across to the Hotel Conrad next door.
Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine said 13 celebrants would marry 33 couples, a record number of weddings for the Brisbane registry.
"It's double the number last year where we had 17 couples marry on 7/07/07," Mr Shrine said.
Two young Brisbane university students from Iran were among the couples to wed.
Alireza and Parisa, both 27, who declined to give their surname, said they originally wanted to marry at 8am but weren't quick enough to nab that highly coveted time slot.
Instead they made their vows at 8.30am.
"It's special for us ... and we hope it's a lucky day for us," Alireza said.
"We just wanted to marry on the eighth of the eighth month in 2008."
SA's Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Val Edyvean, counted 10 marriages today but said the registry had to turn many couples away.
"Certainly there has been much higher demand than usual," he said.
Source: AAP/SBS
