Chinese new year hastening wedding plans

The Guardian (Britain) said Friday while the upcoming year of the tiger officially starts on Valentine's Day, many Chinese couples are rushing to marry based on cultural beliefs regarding the varying fortunes associated with certain dates.

New bride Zhao Shuoxin said she and her new husband, Zhang Ning, considered such beliefs when planning their wedding.

"This is the end of the ox year and we heard the whole of the next one will be bad for marriage," Zhao said.

Since Sunday's new year holiday comes after the official beginning of spring based on the solar-agrarian calendar, some are concerned there is no spring in the year of the tiger.

The Guardian said without spring, which is associated with procreation, there are concerns a so-called widow year was created. Widow years are associated with infertility.

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