A viral discussion erupted on Chinese social media Wednesday after users noticed that the back of their divorce certificates appeared to reveal traces of the traditional "double happiness" (囍) character — a symbol typically associated with weddings and celebrations.
Marriage registration offices in Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces confirmed that the character is indeed part of the certificate's design. However, they clarified that it serves as a security watermark, not a decorative element — the same feature used on marriage certificates.
While many netizens saw "nothing wrong" with the design, others pointed out another detail: the divorce certificate's cover is now red, just like the marriage certificate.
The color change dates back to a 2003 notice from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, which introduced red divorce certificates starting in 2004 to help reduce social stigma surrounding divorce.