August, Month of Ghosts?
By @acelawrites
@acelawrites (19252)
Philippines
July 31, 2016 3:14pm CST
I do not know why some people call August as month of ghosts or ghost month. Maybe because it sounds as one!
It could be the reason why some people do not schedule important events like weddings, saying this is not a good month or an unlucky month.
Some farmers in the Philippines call it "tiempo muerto" (time of death) because during August they are waiting for their crops to mature, so it is a lean season, they have to survive with little food or money till the harvest season in September.
This is specifically for rice farmers.They plant in June then harvest in September (for native varieties or rain fed rice). They wait for the rains to come before they can plant.
Do you think August is not a good month? Or there is no such thing as an unlucky month; just a superstition.
15 people like this
19 responses
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
31 Jul 16
So it could be not so favorable month for many due to hot temperatures! They suspend some activities and stay indoors where there's AC.
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11153)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 Jul 16
@Hatley . . . So you don't believe that there are ghosts? I do! I have seen one . . . My old lady neighbor sporting a "mascara" makeup!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
@antonbunot she scares you a lot. She could have a lot of budget for makeup! ha ha ha!
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11153)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 Jul 16
@jaboUK . . . One month is not the same as another month to me. This month (July and also August) gives me a lot of energy and excitement coz of the sun (vitamin D) and playing tennis (excitement). January and February are ghostly and gloomy months for me because of the extremely cold weather, snow, slippery roads, and lots of shoveling! 
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
31 Jul 16
It is in the olden days when farmers do not have access to irrigation system. But now I think many of them can plant any time of the year.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64229)
• United Kingdom
31 Jul 16
@antonbunot I just make the most of each month as it comes.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50942)
• Holiday, Florida
31 Jul 16
i am hoping it's a superstition as it is my, my moms and 2 of my kids birthday month. but now that you mention it, i recall having terrible times last few birthdays.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50942)
• Holiday, Florida
31 Jul 16
@antonbunot possible. that photo was taken years ago about 4 yrs at sons house where i was living comfortably for a while till all fell apart. maybe it was ghosts?
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11153)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 Jul 16
@bunnybon7 I had to look closely again and again behind your back in your profile photo. I thought I saw a ghost-like figure! O, just a dark area!
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
31 Jul 16
Or maybe it's just a coincidence? Well, at least, we (I) do not really believe in such superstitions. It is we who makes things happen.
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
So nice to know about it, so August is indeed a lucky month, a happy one for you.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3268)
• United States
1 Aug 16
I think August is a great month since I was born in it. lol I've never heard of it being called a ghost month, though. How interesting.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
There are many of myLot members here who are born in August, just like you. Happy birthday to you!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
@hyeriem Some schools here also start classes in August.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
August could be so good for you! You have your milestones in August.
@hyeriem (122)
• Jakarta, Indonesia
1 Aug 16
@acelawrites haha yeah. And also i love august. In my country its a new year of school. New brand. New life. New class. New friend.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16704)
• Canada
2 Aug 16
@acelawrites It was good for him because he lived off taxes collected but then he gave things like roads and water works.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
Yes, it was named after Augustus Caesar. We are hopeful that August this year would be good.
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
2 Aug 16
I don't believe in superstitions .. but it does make sense to me observe when to plant and when to harvest..
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
2 Aug 16
Yes, they choose the month for planting so it will coincide with the rainy season.
1 person likes this
@ida123 (6199)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
2 Aug 16
@acelawrites yes, you are right we're the one who makes our fate. thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
I think so too. I was just echoing some people's beliefs here. Just sharing. Because we are the ones making our fate.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11153)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 Jul 16
@acelawrites Well, while the month of August is rainy in the Philippines, ghosts could not stay long outside, so they come and appear inside (the house). August is summer here in Canada . . there are no ghosts . . they are having fun camping! . . Nah, I am not superstitious!
. . Nah, I am not superstitious!1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
31 Jul 16
Yes,they have to get inside to avoid soaking wet! So ghosts in Canada are out having fun! That's nice, so they won't spook everyone because they are busy!
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
Yes, I said in the above comment to Jessica that many members here are August-born. It is their lucky month indeed.
@JESSY3236 (22503)
• United States
2 Aug 16
I never heard of August being a month of ghosts until I read a blog about it.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
4 Aug 16
It is the Chinese who shared that belief; the reason why they do not like important events to be held in August.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
Yes, they now have an explanation of occurrences in August.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99328)
• Atlanta, Georgia
1 Aug 16
@acelawrites My mother planted her garden by the moon.
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4043)
• United States
1 Aug 16
I think is August is a good month but that might be because my birthday is August 6th. I have never had anything bad happen to me during August. Most of the bad things that have happened to me or my family have happened in January and November.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43872)
• Cambridge, England
31 Jul 16
It may be partly because the word 'August' sounds a bit like the word 'ghost' but, in fact, this is not the real reason. The superstition is due to a Chinese festival which takes place on the 14th or 15th night of the seventh Chinese month and this month is sometimes referred to as the Ghost Month. Since the festival usually falls in early to mid August in the Western calendar, it is most likely that, through the influence of Chinese culture, August has come to be known in the Philippines as the 'Ghost Month'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
31 Jul 16
It could be because there is Chinese influence here. So the term ghost month came into existence.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
You should be excited about August because it it your birth month. Advanced happy birthday then!
1 person likes this
@theBlock (2649)
• United States
31 Jul 16
@acelawrites
August is a spooky month. More ghosts come out in August than any other month. I'm going to visit my mommy this whole month
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
Your Mom would be glad to see his favorite son, I guess.
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
The Chinese has that belief. For Filipinos, specially the farmers, this is a lean month where they have to do whatever they have while waiting for rice harvest in September. Good to know you are August-born. Advanced happy birthday!
@ValueAdder (407)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
August is part of the months in a year. In my personal philosophy, any or all of the months are good ones. There is nothing written in the Scriptures that says a month is supposed to be a bad one. I learned that it is us who can make it either good or bad. The same also applies to the different days in a week or weeks in a month. We decide to make something good this day so it was good. Things may not happened the way we expect it to be and we call it a bad day. In many ways our attitude makes it a bad or good one.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19252)
• Philippines
1 Aug 16
Yes it is us who can make a good or a bad month/day or weeks. But am just echoing the thinking of some people who chose to believe in superstitions to have an explanation for their woes. Just sharing.
