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A survival guide for Ghost Month

Keeping your surroundings bright, clean and tidy is believed to discourage them from lingering.

Eliana Lacap · Aug 28, 2026, 11:31 PM

People prepare food, fruit, incense and other offerings during Ghost Month, a period when spirits are traditionally believed to return to the world of the living. The practice is observed as a way of honoring ancestors and appeasing wandering souls. — Photograph courtesy of History.com

Ghost Month (13 August to 10 September) is here, a time when spirits are said to be out and about. Whether you fully believe in the traditions or simply want to play it safe, here are some of the common do’s and don’ts observed during this period, most especially for your property and living spaces at home.

DON’TS

Avoid major life changes

That wedding? Maybe move it to next month. Want to resign? Hold out a little longer.

According to traditional beliefs, making major life changes during Ghost Month could lead to fallouts, setbacks or even disasters in the future. Basically, it’s not exactly considered the best time to make drastic decisions.

Don’t swim

Have an outing or beach trip with your friends? Yeah, maybe don’t go in the water.

During this period, water spirits are believed to be more active. Swimming could supposedly leave you vulnerable to cramps, exhaustion or even the eerie feeling of being pulled underwater.

So, you know, maybe just stay on the shore.

Don’t stay out late

Partying tonight? Be home by 9 p.m. — or earlier.

It is believed that yin energy reaches its peak during Ghost Month, which can supposedly weaken your protective energy and leave you feeling more moody or paranoid.

So listen to your mom or parents for now. It’s probably for the best.

Don’t touch street offerings

See a coin or some food on the street? Just walk away. Don’t even think about touching it.

During Ghost Month, people traditionally leave offerings for wandering spirits. Disturbing or taking these offerings is believed to anger the spirits and potentially bring bad luck or misfortune your way.

So look, but don’t touch.

Avoid whistling at night

Bored and feel like whistling? Well, not tonight, you’re not.

Whistling at night is traditionally believed to disrupt the surrounding energy and potentially attract spirits. Some beliefs even say they could follow you home once they’ve been alerted to your presence.

If you don’t want an unexpected plus-one following you home, maybe save the whistling for after Ghost Month.

Nighttime rituals during Ghost Month can bring offerings, incense and flames to streets and community spaces as people observe traditions associated with the seventh lunar month. While the customs vary across communities, the period is widely associated with honoring spirits and ancestors. — photograph courtesy of the Order of the Good Death

Don’t dry clothes outside at night

Hanging clothes outside during the day? Don’t forget to bring them in before nighttime.

According to some feng shui beliefs, damp clothes can absorb surrounding energy — including negative energy. Wearing those clothes afterward is then believed to transfer that energy to you.

So before you head to bed, do a quick check. That shirt you forgot on the clothesline? Go get it.

DO’S

Make offerings

Want to do good by the spirits? Make an offering.

Spirits are said to wander during Ghost Month, so families may prepare food, fruit and rice, while others light incense or burn joss paper as offerings to feed and appease wandering souls.

Joss paper is burned during Ghost Month as a symbolic offering for spirits and deceased ancestors. The practice remains one of the most recognizable traditions associated with the seventh lunar month. — photograph courtesy of Wikimedia

Be charitable

Want to do some good? Do it — and honestly, do it all the time.

Ghost Month is considered a good period to practice generosity and kindness, as charitable acts are believed to bring good karma. But really, you don’t need a ghost month as an excuse to be a decent human being.

Keep areas bright

Here’s your excuse to turn on all the lights in the house.

Since spirits are said to wander during this period, keeping your surroundings bright, clean and tidy is believed to discourage them from lingering.

So yes, you can leave the hallway light on. This time, you have a reason.

Practice mindfulness

Don’t start a fight. At least until Ghost Month is over.

Traditional beliefs associate negative emotions and conflict with low-vibration yin energy, which is thought to attract wandering spirits. Instead of picking a fight, take a breath, keep calm and maybe save that argument for another day.

Your peace — and allegedly, the spirits — will thank you.