Boy’s birthday today all about the number 12
Posted: December 12, 2012
The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — A coincidence of numbers has one local mom pretty excited for her son.
Jessica Richards’ son, Anthony Marcial, turns 12 today, on 12-12-12.
To have her son’s age match the last three-of-a-kind date sequence on this century’s calendar was just plain cool, she said.
“I thought it was awesome because this is the last repetitive year we are going to see,” said Richards, 29, of Frederick County. “How often does it happen that someone turns that age on the same day it is happening?”
There are only 12 three-of-a-kind dates each century. The next one will not take place until Jan. 1, 2101.
Numbers beyond the date
The funny thing is, the numbers didn’t stop with the date, Jessica said. Since today is a weekday, Anthony’s party was held at noon Saturday at Skyline Paintball and Laser Tag at 2012 S. Loudoun St. He also invited 12 friends.
The family likes to joke that the coincidences are “a little weird,” said Anthony’s father, Rick Richards, 30.
The party was scheduled a few weeks ago, before Jessica Richards became aware of the 12s. The fact that it was all a coincidence is her favorite part, she said.
Anthony was born 10 days ahead of his Dec. 22, 2000, due date at Winchester Medical Center, she said.
“Some lady asked me if I planned it this way,” Richards said. “I said, ‘Really, how do you plan something like that in 2000?’”
The birthday boy himself is taking it all in stride. Anthony is used to having his age match the year, Richards said. “I am more excited than he is.”
Anthony said he has known about the numbers since a friend of his turned 11 last year on Nov. 11, and he realized the same thing would happen to him this year.
“It is not a big deal. It is just a birthday,” said Anthony, a sixth-grader at James Wood Middle School.
In 2000, there were 4,058,814 births in the United States and its territories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Keeping in mind that the number of births would vary, the average number of babies born each day in 2000 (which was a leap year) would indicate that there are about 11,089 potential 12-year-olds Anthony could share his birthday with. A few lucky ones may also have been born at 12:12 a.m. or 12:12 p.m.
Lucky numbers for weddings
Anthony didn’t choose his birthday, but today also promises to be a popular choice for weddings.
As of Tuesday, The Wedding Chapel located in the George Washington Hotel in Winchester had four bookings and was expecting more walk-ins, chapel co-owner George Kempf said.
The chapel booked one a week ago, and three Monday, he said. Two said they chose the date because 12 is their lucky number.
“Two out of the four have said they feel that is a lucky omen for them,” said Kempf of Berryville. “I think finding each other is the good omen, not the date.”
Still, the response is not unexpected, he said. He has had similar spikes on other three-of-a-kind dates such as 7-7-7 and 11-11-11.
“It seems to be lucky numbers for people and they want to associate with that, and we are happy to accommodate them,” he said.
There are some 7,231 brides registered on the wedding websites TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com who are getting married today, said Melissa Bach, public relations manager for the sites.
The number is 1,744 percent higher than other Wednesdays this month, she said.
Fast on the heels of the 12-12-12 hoopla, another date this month that has been getting attention is Dec. 21, the last day depicted on the Mayan long calendar. The calendar has lasted for 5,125 years.
The event has spawned many theories, including some people’s belief that the end of the calendar could prophesy the end of the world or at least a big change.
A variety of websites have popped up exploring the issue, including december2012endofworld.com, orion2012.com, december212012.com and december212012-prophecy.blogspot.com.
— Contact Laura McFarland at lmcfarland@winchesterstar.com