Tonight, the moon turns red. And somewhere in Filipino memory, that color means one thing: make noise.

Long before lunar eclipses were explained in science classrooms, communities across the Philippines, especially in rural areas in the Visayas, believed that a darkening moon was in danger. It was not just a spectacle. It was a crisis unfolding in the sky.

Here are the Filipino superstitions that come alive during a blood moon.

Make as Much Noise as You Can

When the moon begins to disappear or shift into a deep red, elders would urge everyone outside. Bang the pots. Clash the metal. Beat the drums. Shout if you have to.

The belief traces back to the story of the Bakunawa, a serpent-like creature said to swallow the moon during an eclipse. The blood red hue signaled that it had taken hold. The only way to make it release the moon was to scare it away with overwhelming sound.

It was a full community effort. Children and adults alike joined in. The louder the barangay, the better the chances of saving the moon.

Pregnant Women Should Stay Inside

Beyond the noise, eclipses also carried warnings. Pregnant women were advised to remain indoors, avoid looking at the moon, and not touch their stomach or face during the event. The fear was that exposure could cause birthmarks, deformities, or a cleft palate in the baby.

Do Not Eat or Drink

Another common belief says food and water exposed during the eclipse become contaminated. Some families cover dishes and containers until the moon returns to normal, fearing indigestion or poisoning from the shadow.

A Red Moon Means Trouble

A blood moon is often viewed as a bad omen. Folklore links it to disasters, war, illness, or famine. The dramatic color fuels the idea that something ominous is about to unfold.

Keep the Animals Indoors

Pets and livestock are sometimes brought inside during an eclipse. There is a belief that animals may become restless, wild, or affected by the eclipse’s energy.

Science tells us the red glow happens because the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, filtering light into a copper tint. But superstition tells a different story, one built on myth, protection, and participation.

So tonight, if you hear jokes about bringing out the kaldero or see someone half seriously telling you not to eat, know that it comes from a time when Filipinos did not just watch the sky change. They answered it with sound.