More do’s and don’ts during the ghost month

Yesterday, Aug. 8, was the start of the ghost month and it will last till Sept. 6 this year. Aug. 22 is the feast day of the ghost month and this is the day we must offer prayers for our dearly departed and all those who have passed.

Last year, I wrote about the do’s and don’ts during the ghost month. When I reread my article, we were on our fourth month of the lockdown and our numbers were averaging 2,000 cases daily, with 85,000 plus cases and 1,962 reported deaths then. At that time, I was already feeling so frustrated, anxious, and helpless.

Fast forward to one year later and we’re back to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until Aug. 20. We average 5,000 cases daily. We’ve reached more than 1.5 million cases with over 28,000 deaths to date and the numbers are not slowing down.

A few days ago, I was watching the news and there was a consensus among businessmen that if there were plans to lock down again, they preferred that it happens during the ghost month since business is slow during this period. To those who are unaware of the ghost month, in the Chinese culture, this is the time that the gates of hell open and the ghosts come out to visit their families while feasting and looking for victims. During this time, the living relatives are expected to offer sacrifices for their deceased ancestors and relatives.

On Aug. 22, which is the feast day of the ghosts, light incense and say a prayer for them. You can put food like oranges, peanuts with shells, candles, flowers, incense, and coins in your altar at home as offerings. These rituals help appease the ghosts and just make sure you don’t eat the food that you offered. According to Baby Fernandez of Yin Yang Shop of Harmony, offer only inside your house if they’re your relatives. If not, it is best to do your offering in the temple or outside your house.

Here are her other tips to practice during the ghost month: Avoid staying out late at night, especially if your chi is low or you’re feeling down. If this is the case, it is best to stay indoors. This won’t be difficult since curfew has been imposed once again from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. It is best that kids don’t stay out at night, too. If you must be out at night, avoid whistling as well since the ghosts might think you’re calling them. For ladies, avoid wearing high heels as it is easier to get possessed if your feet are elevated.

Keep the entrance to your homes bright. That goes for your clothes as well. Avoid wearing dark colors like black, red, navy blue or brown. Opt for bright colors like pink and yellow.

Lastly, Tita Baby also says to avoid swimming, camping in the woods, moving houses or offices, opening a business, getting married, getting surgery (unless absolutely necessary), signing contracts, buying a new car or starting construction.

Many of you may be skeptical but personally I don’t see any harm in practicing these rituals. Of course, this is best reinforced with lots and lots of prayers, not only for the dead but more so for the living. I am hopeful that after the ECQ and the end of the ghost month, we will finally see some positive news and that this COVID nightmare will be a thing of the past.