For superstitious Chinese folks, the 7th month of the lunar calendar, represents the "ghost" month.  The first day of the 7th lunar month falls on August 1, 2008. The seventh month is also known as the ghost month because it is the time Chinese folks visit their dead, pretty similar to our All Soul's Day.  Major events like weddings, engagements, house construction, renovation, moving into new homes, etc are discouraged.   There's actually no proof that having a wedding during the ghost month will bear misfortune for the newlyweds but most Chinoys just prefer to be on the safe side.  My uncle, who is a doctor of internal medicine, however, noticed that more deaths occur among his patients during this month.  So as much as possible, people stay away from hospitals, surgical operations, etc.  Eerie…  For businesses, it is also observed that businesses tend to slow down.  This led me to wondering… why was the Beijing Olympics set on August 8, 2008?  But I guess its no surprise since the Communist Chinese do not subscribe to such beliefs.   They have even outlawed religion.  Last I heard, they are trying to control the weather and has promised clear skies during the Olympics.  Can they prove to be more powerful than nature?