IN TAGALOG WE call it “Buwan ng Multo”, in Cebuano “Bulan sa mga Multo”, in Ilocano “Bulan dagiti Anana”, and in Bicolano, you might hear “Buwan kan mga Kaluluwa.”Across dialects, the language shifts—multo, kaluluwa, anana—but the core belief stays the same: the dead are walking among us.
Why “Ghost Month”?
Ghost Month refers to the seventh lunar month, when traditional Chinese belief says the gates of hell open, allowing restless or “hungry” spirits to roam the earth—all hoping for offerings and prayers. In the Philippines, this tradition—imported largely via FilipinoChinese communities—has taken root among many other Filipinos too.
How It Impacts Work and Society
Businesses stall: Starting new projects, opening businesses, or signing contracts during Ghost Month is widely avoided—viewed as inviting misfortune.
Stock market slows: Even the Philippine Stock Exchange sees reduced activity during this time.
Work expectation shifts: Some businesses use the lull to develop teams, train staff, or prepare for the last quarter quietly and smartly rather than sprint ahead recklessly.
Still, not everyone buys these taboos—some call them excuses, not spiritual truth:
“No such thing as bawal magbayad during ghost month… pwede ka magissue ng demand letter.”
“Make your FAITH bigger than your fear, not the other way around.”
Personal and Emotional Layers
Ghost Month doesn’t just freeze contracts—it stirs feelings:
• Reflecting on loss: As spirits wander, many take the time to remember loved ones with offerings of food, incense, and joss paper—not because they literally feed ghosts, but to honor family and the departed.
• Heightened caution: Whistling at night, swimming alone, rescuing coins from the street—even hanging clothes overnight—are seen as risky, because they might invite spirits.
• Community empathy: In households, menor ceremonies or public temple offerings are held. The month may be seen as one of gloom, but it’s also one of compassion—for the living and the dead.
Why We Call It “Ghost Month”
Because it is literally a month for ghosts—not a trendy phrase, but a living tradition deriving from ancient Taoist and Buddhist roots, where hungry ghosts return seeking solace, and the living respond with humility and ritual.
The Soul of Ghost Month: A Filipino Take
Ghost Month in the Philippines is both pause and prayer. It’s a tradition that:
• invites reflection: slowing down when life pushes us fastest,
• cultivates respect: for ancestors, community wisdom, and spiritual landscapes,
• and offers connection: through shared practices across dialects, from Tagalog “atang” to Cebuano offerings outside the door.
And if all that depth doesn’t convince skeptics—remember: sometimes the best superstitions are the ones that teach us to pause, respect, and remember.
So whether you whisper “Buwan ng Multo” or “Bulan dagitiAnana”, Ghost Month at its heart asks us: Can we slow for a moment, honor what’s gone, and carry forward with more care?
Ghost Month in the Philippines—whether called by Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, or Bicolano names—is a time when restless spirits are believed to roam. That belief ripples through our economy, community practices, and personal lives: discouraging big moves, inviting offerings, and giving us a chance to pause, remember, and respect.