November 11, 2011, or 11/11/11, has been recognized by many Chinese people as Super Single's Day or Divine Single's Day as this year falls in numerical harmony with the annual Single's Day, an informal holiday for those not involved in committed relationships.
Single's Day has been celebrated on November 11 since the 1990s, because the date is entirely composed of the single digit "1".
But many Chinese bachelors and bachelorettes are looking at 11/11/11 as an auspicious date and they are determined to end their unattached days by taking the plunge of getting married or entering into a romantic relationship on that day.
People around the world prefer to get married on auspicious dates, and the Chinese have no shortage of traditionally lucky numbers: the number 10 means perfection; 9 implies eternity; 8 refers to wealth; 6 brings lucks and 7 does not.
Official records show last year's most sought-after date was 10/10/10, with more than 11,000 couples registering for marriage in Beijing alone. While the number was lower than the 19,000 on September 9, 2009 (09/09/09) and the 15,000 on August 8, 2008 (08/08/08), it was still a long way above average.
Those dates, as well as today's 11/11/11 and next year's 12/12/12, appear just once a century.
Although the number 11 does not have any particular significance for the Chinese, some believe it could positively influence their luck by having a marriage certificate dated for that magical day.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come up with a wedding date like this, and we won't miss it," said Wan Qiang, a husband-to-be from eastern China's Jiangxi Province.
Wan and his girlfriend of seven years, Tao Yiting, have decided to register today. "We will also have an easy-to-remember anniversary," Wan said.
They are one of many couples creating a surge in marriage registrations in cities across China for today. Couples have been making appointments since early October, according to Lei Peng, a worker at a marriage-registration station in Jiangxi's capital city of Nanchang.
Moreover, reports show that Shanghai's civil affairs authority had received over 3,200 applications for today's registration as of Tuesday.
It has become difficult to book a hotel for a wedding ceremony today in some areas, although weekdays were not usually booked in the past.
Despite the happy plans of soon-to-be newlyweds, some remaining singles have decided to carry on the tradition of the so-called "sacred once-a-century festival."
Traditionally, only singles can enjoy November 11, especially in this special year, according to a popular post appearing on several Chinese Internet portals.
The post even encouraged those in love to break up before today, so they can qualify as singles and be eligible for the day's special arrangements.
Many activities proposed by singles were somehow intended to create opportunities for them to meet new friends or romantic interests, as various kinds of bachelor parties and match-making gatherings will be held for singles today.
