'Aughost'

Ghosts and ghost projects, in the month of August (from the 23rd to Sept. 21). “Ghost” might as well be the word of the week.

- JULLIE Y. DAZA

According to tradition, once a year the “hungry ghosts” are allowed to come out to play. Which may be why food, freshly cooked and edible, ready to be consumed, is left on the doorstep or by the gate by families in China and wherever they happen to be.

To appease or please the ghosts on their yearly festival, the superstition grew into a habit and subsequently became a tradition, just like the Halloween practice in Western countries of kids wearing spooky costumes to knock on the doors of their neighbors and friends to ask for candy and treats.