For those attaching special significance to numbers, Dec. 12, 2012 is an auspicious day. While there is no generally accepted term for dates in which the day, month and year all match – perhaps because they are so rare – it's important to note that after a dozen in a row, the next one won't come until Jan. 1, 2101.
Here are 12 facts to celebrate the century's last sequential date:
- Couples from Hong Kong and Singapore are flocking to tie the knot as 12/12/12 is seen by some to guarantee a happy marriage. Agence France-Presse reports that in Hong Kong, four times as many couples are heading to the altar on Dec. 12, compared with last year. In Singapore, the number of marriages will multiply eight-fold.
- A Brampton, Ont., couple are set to wed at a sunset ceremony in Aruba on Dec. 12, 2012, according to The Canadian Press. Krisztina Sebesi, 34, and Rex Lu, 26, will celebrate with a 12-course meal and a cake featuring 12 starfish.
- Dec. 12 will be a momentous birthday for Kiam Moriya of Alabama, who was born on that date in New York in 2000, at 12:12 p.m., according to AL.com. He’ll be celebrating with Krispy Kreme donuts in the shape of the number 12.
- A southwestern Michigan casino is also betting that 12-12-12 is going to be a lucky day for opening its new hotel. A ribbon-cutting is planned for 12:12 p.m. Wednesday for the 242-room hotel at FireKeepers Casino near Battle Creek.
- While choosing special dates for cesarean sections is common, The Hindu newspaper reports 12/12/12 is not popular in India as it falls the day before Amavasya or a new moon, a day usually avoided for planned births.
- One of the largest events in music history will be held on Dec. 12, 2012. The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, The Who and Paul McCartney will perform at the Hurricane Sandy relief concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Organizers expect two billion people will watch through TV, radio and online streaming.
- According to Chinese numerology, one is a yang number ruled by the sun and represents independence and individualism. Two is a yin number ruled by the moon and represents symmetry and balance. Combined, the number 12 brings harmony to the yin and the yang.
- Mathematicians love 12 for its inherent divisibility. It is one of the few smaller numbers that can be evenly divided into multiple subsets: halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and twelfths.
- Because 12 can be so easily divided, it’s commonly used in measurements. There are 12 inches in a foot, 12 ounces in a troy pound (used to measure gold, silver and gems), and 12 in a dozen.
- The number 12 has found its way into religion (12 apostles), mythology (12 Olympian gods) and astrology (12 signs of the zodiac).
- Twelve often represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. December is the 12th month of the year; every 12 hours day turns to night or night to day.
- There are also 12 pairs of ribs in most humans, 12 face cards in a deck, and 12 people have walked on the moon.