TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Couples across Taiwan rushed to get married on Monday (May 20), as the date 520 sounds somewhat similar to "I love you" in Mandarin.
Some netizens have even labeled 520 another Valentine’s Day. The arrival of 520 coincided with the presidential inauguration, making it a busy day at household registration offices around Taiwan.
In Kaohsiung, 195 couples registered their marriages on Monday, with Fengshan District registering 26 marriages. Newlyweds in Kaohsiung were specially treated to a heart-shaped box of cookies from Kaohsiung City Civil Affairs Bureau, per LTN.
Love was also in the air at other municipal offices across Taiwan. Pingtung County Government held a weeklong celebration, offering gifts to newlyweds May 14-20.
Pingtung County’s Department of Civil Affairs believes 520 is more auspicious due to the “Year of the Dragon,” associated with good luck and fortune. It prepared extra staff for nuptials and doubled the days newlyweds could register their marriage as 520 from the previous three days to six days, per CNA.
Pingtung said that last year, around 95 couples registered their marriage date as 520. This year, due to the expanded program and promotions, it recorded 200 nuptials.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) lauded officials for providing extra assistance to newlyweds. Chou encouraged more people to get married and start a family with a “dragon” baby.
Chou said the county government is providing a NT$20,000 (US$620) maternity subsidy for newborns registered in Pingtung County. Furthermore, Chou said even more benefits are available according to the central government’s program subsidizing children between ages 0 and 6.