Couples across China are rushing to get married in the next few days before the Year of the Rooster, chickening out of what they believe to be a jinxed time to tie the knot.

This year the lunar cycle begins relatively late, on Feb. 9, which means it will not contain "lichun", the auspicious day that marks the start of spring, earning it the dubious distinction of being a "widow year", or unlucky for wedlock.

Chinese media have reported that marriage registrations are soaring around the country as people scramble to get hitched in the last days of the Year of the Goat.

"Business is normally low for us this time of year, but this year, in keeping with traditional Chinese beliefs, many people want to get married before the spring festival and we have lots of customers," said Ms. Wang, manager of Beijing's Luowei wedding photo studio.

The phenomenon normally occurs on average about every nine years. The last "widow" year came in 2002 and sparked a similar marriage rush.

"Though the 'widow year' is nonsense, the fact that people try to avoid it reflects their strong desire for a happy marriage," Zhang Youde, a sociologist at Shanghai University, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Respect of tradition also appears to be an important motivation, as many Chinese are starting to revive centuries-old customs branded "feudalistic" or backwards and all but abandoned during the era of Mao Zedong.

Standing outside the Luowei studio in a tuxedo and puffing on a cigarette, Beijing resident Gui Lu said he and his wife deliberately decided to marry early this month.

"I don't believe in that stuff too much, but I can't say I don't believe at all," Gui said. "It's Chinese tradition. It's something we should uphold."

Source: Xinhua