Sunday August 16, 2009
Hungry Ghost no match for 09-09-09
By GLADYS TAY
JOHOR BARU: Although Sept 9 falls in the month of the Hungry Ghost, many Chinese couples will still be registering their weddings on the special day 09-09-09.
This is because the number “nine” when pronounced in Mandarin sounds like the word “everlasting”.
Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association manager Eric Ku said their past records showed only about 20 couples registered their weddings during the Hungry Ghost month but this year, more than 80 couples have submitted their documents for the registration on the specific day.
When asked why the couples decided to go ahead even though it falls during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, Ku explained that those who chose the day might be more “modern-minded”.
The numbers have it: Ku showing a banner advertising the mass registration of marriages and wedding dinners planned for Sept 9. “Normally, Chinese still perceive the tea ceremony as the actual marriage day, thus they are not so particular about the date they choose to register,” he said.
He added that since this year is the Year of the Ox, it is also seen as a good year to get married.
“We plan to have 99 couples for a mass wedding on that day and we will also organise a dinner for them.
“We are targeting about 100 tables for the dinner,” he told The Star.
He added that this kind of dinner will be the first of its kind being organised by the association for a mass wedding.
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