A record number of marriages were registered in Russia and abroad on the last lucky rollover date, 7/7/7. Eva Longoria and basketball player Tony Parker got hitched on the ‘triple seven’, as did Russian stars like comedian Mikhail Galustyan and TV host Vi

One year on, not all is looking so rosy. The superstitious date turned out to be just that for the many couples who have since divorced. In Tula, a city 200km south of Moscow, a quarter of the couples wed on that date last year are now divorced. Over 200 marriages were registered there on 7 July 2007, and about 25% have since been dissolved, according to the local registry office.

The number of marriages in Russia is growing, and considerably faster than the number of divorces, but divorces are still high. In St. Petersburg last year there were 44,460 marriages and 25,794 divorces. This meant that for every 100 marriages there were 58 divorces, compared to 60 during the previous year.

But the dubious fortune of last year’s ‘lucky’ date won’t deter couples who are determined to wed on this year’s triple figure date, coming up in August.

The number eight is seen to symbolise continuity and union. To the superstitious, the doubly symmetric figure, written with a single fluid stroke of the pen, has a special mystical significance.

For some, a marriage that takes place on 8/8/8 is sure to last, and record numbers of Russians are expected to tie the knot on that date. Tula’s registry office, for one, will again be packed with over 200 couples.