By now you've probably heard why the Olympic Games with begin on 08-08-08 at 08:08:08 pm. Below is what I found over at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_in_Chinese_culture#Combinations regarding the significance of the number eight in Chinese culture.
Eight
The word for "eight" (八，捌) in Mandarin (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means "prosper" or "wealth" (发 - short for "发财", Pinyin: fā). In regional dialects the words for "eight" and "fortune" are also similar, eg Cantonese "baat" and "faat".
There is also a resemblance between two digits, "88", and the shuang xi ('double joy'), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters 喜 (xi, 'joy', 'happiness').
Telephone number 8888-8888 was sold for USD$270,723 in Chengdu, China.
The Summer Olympics in Beijing are scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08pm[2]
A man in Hangzhou offered to sell his license plate reading A88888 for RMB 1.12 million.[2]
Dragon Fish Industry in Singapore, a breeder of rare Asian Arowanas (which are "lucky fish" themselves, and, being a rare species, are required to be microchipped), makes sure to use numbers with plenty of eights in their microchip tag numbers, and appears to reserve particular numbers especially rich in eights and sixes (e.g. 702088880006688) for particularly valuable specimens.[3][4]
Here's a scrapbooking tip on how to use Chinese and Olympic scrapbook products:
- Sit down tonight with your kids and discuss what it took for the athletes to make it to the Olympics...how many hours a day and years of practice and conditioning, the parental sacrifices, the MONEY involved, the mental strength needed.
- Discuss the process of dreaming, aspiring to be great no matter what you choose to do.
- Sports...focusing on the unusual sports at the olympics (and the ones that should be...like baton twirling)!
- Discuss people you know from China, or those with Chinese Heritage.
- List all the ways you connect to Chinese Culture.
I'll be letting my kids know that it's never too late to start training for the Olympics...create your own little set of Olympic games in the back yard this weekend.
My daughter's birthday was yesterday (08/08/08), and that crazy kid thought the opening ceremonies were celebrating HER day because of the emphasis on the calendar. LOL. You gave some great info. It will help me explain how it's NOT all about her.
Posted by: Ericka | August 09, 2008 at 03:38 AM
you always seem to keep things interesting...love this ;-)
Posted by: Lisa D. | August 09, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I left you an award on my blog. Stop by and collect it.
Posted by: Renee | August 10, 2008 at 11:11 PM
All summer long I've been focusing on the Olympics for a class, so I can truly relate to the significant of 8/8/08.
I love the photo of Leah in front of the Olympic symbol. Is she a hopeful for the 2012 Olympics?
Posted by: Lisa Renée a/k/a LRY4everyoung | August 12, 2008 at 02:55 PM