08/08/08 - A lucky day or not?

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The Chinese seventh month, usually August, is the most ill-fated time of the year. It is called Ghost Month, and its climax is the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Buddhists, Taoists and believers of Chinese folk religion believe that during the Ghost Month, the spirits of the dead wander the earth. There’s superstition that the Ghost Month is the most inauspicious time, during which important decisions and activities such as travel, weddings, moving to a new house and even swimming are suspended.

“The Beijing Olympics and establishments hold events and promotions on Aug. 8 because on the surface they think that 08-08-08 is a lucky number. This is an ordinary day in the calendar similar to July 7, 2007 and June 6, 2006,” Chau says. “But if Aug. 8, 2008 is not within the Ghost Month, it is really a lucky day. But since it falls in that month, one’s luck will somewhat have a ‘big discount.’”

On the other hand, Maritess Allen, feng shui expert and CEO of World of Feng Shui boutique, says the actual day of the Ghost Festival falls on Aug. 14 at exactly 12 a.m. “Contractors and builders, however, are advised to start renovations before Aug. 1 and end way after Aug. 30,” she says. “For the whole month of August, we need to be extra careful and avoid taking risks. For added protection, wear an amulet or display protective images.”

Olympics

In Chinese culture and tradition, Allen says, the number 8 is considered very lucky. “So it’s not surprising that the Olympics starts on 8/8/08.”

The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing will begin at 8:08:08 p.m. CST (12:08:08 UTC).

In feng shui, we are now in the period of eight, which started February 2003 and will end February 2024. “The number 8, an infinity sign and a classic symbol of luck in Europe and Asia, is the luckiest among the nine numbers (1 to 9). So those who will make a special effort to tap into its potency will definitely attract extra good fortune, thus launching a worldwide event such as the Beijing Olympics was a good choice,” Allen says. “The Chinese used the Four Pillars of Destiny analysis to get the luck pattern for the day, 8/8/08, which is an extremely auspicious date.”

In China, some people have to pay a certain dough to have the number 8 in their phone numbers, addresses, car plates and so on. The number is significant for the Chinese because its pronunciation in Cantonese (“ba”) means making money and sound (“fa”) means prosperity.

Do you believe in this? Well, there is nothing wrong in believing such superstitions as long as we don't rely on them completely. We should not live according to what these beliefs says. We must always try to take control of our lives and aim for the best so that we wouldn't have regrets in the end. :)