China goes nuts for the number 8

China’s capital reported a sevenfold increase in weddings Wednesday, as superstitious Chinese took advantage of what was considered an auspicious date. A spike in Caesarean births was also reported in some areas, the single biggest baby bump since the rush to be the first to give birth on Jan. 1, 2000. The number eight is considered lucky because it rhymes with the word for “prosper.” Wednesday’s rush could be but a trickle compared to that expected next year, when the date becomes even more auspicious — Aug. 8, 2008.
- AP