Eight is considered the luckiest of all lucky numbers and many people have already made plans for the eight of August 2008. It is the only day in recent memory when there will be so many eights in the date, and people are taking note.

Eight also has a strong relationship with wedding dates. Lay 8 down on its side and it represents the symbol of infinity - something without end. Many new couples want their weddings to last forever and are paying attention to the date August 8, 2008.

8-8-08 has a nice ring to it. It has been called the next big wedding day after 7-7-07. A lot of couples are scheduled to get married on this day. In the Chinese culture, the number 8 is the most auspicious of all lucky numbers and with three eights in a row, most couples see it as a jackpot. They also pay attention when choosing a phone number, home address or opening a bank account, and the more eights there are, the better.

The eight phenomenon is not peculiar to Asian communities alone, people are making plans to go on gambling trips on 8/8/08, place bets with many eights in it and hope to win big. Hotels and casinos are also taking note, and photographers are saving this day for high paying customers.

United Artists is also targeting releasing some movies on the 8th of August, 2008 (8-8-08). These include Valkyrie, the movie directed by Bryan Singer and starring Tom Cruise in a real life story of the assassination attempt on the life of Adolph Hitler during the 2nd World War.

The inventor of itoPad, a laptop heat dissipater, presently has it on sale for $8.88 to capture the magic of the number 8, and so far, sales have increased.

Other businesses taking advantage of the 8-8-08 include the website where ad spaces are sold as good luck pixels. For 8 cents a pixel, you can place your ad on the web for the world to see, and prepare your business for good luck. The website also offers a free email service with the eight theme, yourname@8808home.com with an email like that, you are set up with good luck for life.

Some people believe that 8-8-08 will not be as successful as 7-7-07 because it falls on a Friday and not Saturday, but the magic is the number eight, not the day. The date means so much to the Olympic planning committee that the 2008 Olympic also has an 8 theme. It starts by 8pm on Friday the 8th of August, 2008

Some skeptics say that it is all superstition, and that eight is just another number. Yet they knock on wood and cross their fingers when they expect something good. They also stay away from black cats. We can all pick and choose whether or not we'd like to be a part of a good luck wave. What harm is there in wanting to be part of the most exciting day in 2008? Life is short, and dates like this only come a few times in a lifetime. Are you ready for 2008's biggest day?

Author, Ifeanyi Esimai

ifeanyi@8808homepage.com