(5 min read)
Today is the 8 of February 2021.
I was wondering what to write today until I saw the numeral 8 at the bottom of my screen. Moreover as this week runs into the lunar new year celebrations this week end, it would be appropriate to talk about "8".
Have you ever wondered why 8 is auspicious to the Chinese? It is because "8" is pronounced as "Ba" in the Mandarin. And "Ba" sounds like "Fa" when pronounced in the first sound of the Hanyu Pinyin. (there are four sounds if Pinyin,)
If "Ba" - 八 sounds like "Fa" - 发, then the numeral 8 becomes a more well sought number amongst the line up of numerals from 0 to 9. （发 means to prosper in the Chinese language)
Moreover looking at the numeral 8, it has no sharp corners and is made up of 2 circles joined together in the middle. The Chinese have a fascination about round things like round table, round spoons etc. You know what I mean.. 😊
Since 8 is believed to be auspicious, the use of "8" for most things related to the Chinese New Year gets very amplified and dominant during this period.
First, the marketing of CNY reunion dinners aggressively uses "8". You will see "8" hogging the prices of reunion dinners starting for 2 to 10 per table aggressively priced from a $38 to $1888. To cater to restaurant patrons who do not like to over eat, 8 course reunion dinners are also available.
Besides reunion dinners, the prices of common gifts are also priced with at least a numeral 8 in them. Take for example, gift hampers which are (in my opinion) atrociously over priced but auspiciously priced in triple digits for the bare minimum "Decent Gift Hamper". Note that the "4" is hardly used for marketing and pricing during Chinese New Year.
From the gifter's point of view, seeing a number 8 makes him or her re-assured that the gift is auspicious. From the receiver's point of view, the price is definitely not revealed. However, I believe that almost anything can be made known in this Google age. Will the price be known if the receiver were to just Google?
You and I know the answer.
Importantly, the receiver of the gift hamper feels that bestowed with prosperity when "8" is revealed...NICE!
OXOX
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