PETALING JAYA: The Year of the Snake is expected to see a surge in weddings due to the rare and auspicious “Double Spring and Leap Month” in the Chinese calendar.
This occurs when a lunar year has two “li chun” days.
Li chun refers to the start of spring, symbolising renewal and growth. A leap month is an additional month added to the lunar calendar every three years.
This year, the first li chun falls on Feb 3, right after the Lunar New Year, while the second li chun occurs on Feb 4 next year, before the Year of the Snake ends on Feb 16.
This combination makes the Year of the Snake a meaningful time for couples to begin their new lives together.
Ng Shou Yan and Yee Ying Yih, both 28, are among the couples planning to hold their wedding reception during this auspicious period.
“We met on Jan 9 about 10 years ago,” said Ng, adding that they had been in a long-distance relationship as he is in the construction business in Kuala Lumpur while Yee is a radiographer in Penang.
Sharon Tan, 35, who works in a bank, said she and her boyfriend decided to marry this year, believing the timing felt right.
“We didn’t specifically follow zodiac traditions, but it just felt like the right time to get married. It’s great to know this year is considered lucky,” she said, adding that they plan to register their marriage in June.
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall has seen a huge demand for marriage registrations, with all online appointment slots from January to March fully booked, said vice-president Ng Geok Chee.
“For January, we have 31 couples registered, 45 in February, and 49 in March,” she said.
However, she noted a shift in trends, with couples choosing significant dates over zodiac traditions.
“For instance, in 2021, March 14 was popular for its symbolic ‘1314’ (a homophone for ‘a lifetime’), and Dec 12 symbolised couples walking hand-in-hand,” she explained.
On the other hand, Ng said couples will look into zodiac considerations for family planning.
“Every zodiac has its positive aspects. People enjoy celebrating joyful occasions with an optimistic outlook,” she said.
Fion Lew, the CEO of Enya Mareine Wedding Gallery, spoke of the unique appeal of the “Double Spring and Leap Month”.
“This year symbolises prosperity, blessings and a happy marriage, making it an ideal time to tie the knot,” she said.
She said there was much interest during a recent bridal exhibition.
“Between February and April, over 80 couples have already booked wedding photo shoots with us, with some reserving photography services for their big day,” she said.
She also observed a return to grand celebrations during this post-pandemic period.
“Couples now want both stunning photos and memorable wedding banquets, unlike two years ago when many opted for simpler celebrations,” she said.
