Why 09/09/09 Is So Special?

[Diaspora_Dude]

By Heather Whipps

 

Have special plans this 09/09/09?

 

Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.

 

In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date. Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.

 

Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.

 

 

Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.

 

For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.

 

Math magic

 

 

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

 

 

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.

 

 

Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.

 

 

"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.

 

As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.

 

Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

 

 

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

 

 

Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...

 

Loving 9

 

 

Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.

 

The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).

 

 

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.

 

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

 

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

 

Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.

[Cara.]

I still remember what I was doing on September 9, 1999 at 09:09:09. I was noting down in my diary: "It is now 9/9/99 9:09:09"

[Diaspora_Dude]

Can you enlighten us with what the entry was that date?

[Cara.]

Sure, but keep in mind that I was young and restless

 

Dear Diary,

 

Today is 9/9/99 9:09:09. Well, actually it's 9/9/99 9:10:55, but that's only because I had trouble with the pen, and then I dropped you, and then McCormick asked a question and I had to look attentive for a second. Ecology 101 is SOOO boring! If I have to calculate the effect of roundworm infestation on the population density of marine snails in the estuaries of Tasmania one more time I think I will scream. You know, I don't think I'm going to make a good environmental activist. Even though nothing is more romantic than tying myself to a tree and defying the bulldozers that want to turn a beautiful sequoia (sp?) to toilet paper next to the man I love. Which reminds me, in anatomy class the frog I was supposed to dissect was completely ruined by my useless lab partner Matt. Honestly I don't know how that blockhead can even function, most of his mental processes must be dedicated to running his hand through his hair. But he is cute though. But he's dumb. But he's so cute. But dumb. Cute. Dumb."

 

Then there are some doodles, a tragic attempt at drawing a half-dissected frog and an even more atrocious drawing of this Matt person. I don't even remember him now

[N.O.R.F]

^Why do I get the feeling that is actually a true account?

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Why wasn't 08/08/08 special? And why wasn't 07/07/07, 06/06/06, 05/05/05 special either?

 

Tan ayaaba ugu fiican, being two complete digit numbers each: 10/10/10. Bababa, perfect score too. So next year Eebba hana gaarsiiyo.

[Jacaylbaro]

numberka 9 ayay wax weyni ku jiraan dhinaca rooxaanta iyo jimanka ,,,

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Soomaalida ma aaminsanyihiin a 'special' number horta?

 

The closest is number toddobo, methinks. Toddobaadka labada isguursado ka baxaan, ciyaalka la banaanbixiyo markee dhashaan, et cetera.

[Wing Wizard]

Also in football (soccer), jersey no. '9' is different. A player with jersey no. '9' has only one fixed position in the football. The main striker. I have never seen him playing in the midfield or in the defense. But I witnessed a player with the jersey no. '1' playing as a winger.

 

This is the 4-4-2 formation:

 

-----------K-------- --

LB----CB------CB---- RB

W-----M-------M----- -W

--------S----------- --

----------(9)------- --

[GlassEyeGirl]

Came to the states 9/9/99, been here 10 years today. Time flies.

[Baluug]

Well, on 9/9/99, I was 4 days after celebrating my 21st birthday, I had recently moved out of my parents' place and was renting my own place, and I imagine I smoked a lot of weed that day, no matter what else was going on. As for today, I am 4 days after celebrating my 31st, and I am fasting for the sake of Allah SWT to seek His pleasure and hopefully be saved from hellfire. Things can really change and that only seemed like yesterday. Ahhhh, memories......

 

And in 10 years, I'll still be 4 days after my 31st birthday Shhhh, don't tell......

[Chocolate and Honey]

Ohh, OMG, I remember what I was doing 9/9/999. I moved from ATL to a small town of a couple of thousands of White people in MN where my aunts who witnessed my birth and havent seen me since poked at my chest arguing passionetly amongst them whether I was devoloping something under my shirt or not :eek: . I sat on the stairs and cried :confused: for what I dont have a freaking clue!! Then this girl sat next to me who turned out to be my neighbor, who has been my best friend since this year

[Cara.]

^That's endearing C&H. Hopefully your aunts are still not arguing

 

Happy belated birthday Indho Blue!

 

Norfsky, cross my heart and hope to die.

[Baluug]

^I don't think they'd still be arguing, because C+H should be fully "developed" by now so there's nothing to argue over

[Fabregas]

^^lol

 

 

since 9/11 Americans have forced their date system on us. it is actually 11:9 ( the eleventh of september).