Full Moon Names

Almost every night the Moon shines in the sky with its mystical glow. Yet how often do you think about this celestial body? Perhaps not very often , busy with thoughts for your own care.However, the Moon has inspired thousands of people around the world. This is why it deserves at least a few minutes of your time – to get more knowledge and to appreciate it even more! Did you know, for example, that the Full Moon has a different name each month?

Over the centuries, various peoples marked the cycles of the Moon with different names. These can be found in Chinese, Old English, Celtic, New Guinea culture. Indian tribes often used lunar cycles to follow the changing seasons and given name of each Full Moon. This name was used to denote the entire month in which the Full Moon happened. So let have a look.

January: The Wolf MoonFull Moon Names

In January snow cover up the forests and the howling of wolves echoing in the still chilly air. Some tribes called this time Snow Moon, but most have used that name for the next month.

February: The Snow Moon

The snow becomes even deeper, making the name appropriate. For those who called Snow moon in January, February was hungry moon because of the difficult conditions for hunting and dwindling food stocks.

March: The Worm Moon

Snow begins to melt slowly, soften the ground, and the earthworms began to appear. Other signs of the coming spring lead to the use of different names: cawing of crows – Crow moon, the appearance of crust by melting and freezing snow again – Moon crust, time to collect maple syrup – Moon of maple sap.

phlox_hot_sept_pink_1April: The Pink Moon

The flowers begin to bloom, including widespread grassy pink phlox. Variations include other signs of spring – sprouting grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish moon.

May: The Flower Moon

Flowers are in full bloom and it’s time to sow maize. The period is called Sowing of maize Moon and Milk moon.

June: The Strawberry MoonFull Moon Names

This month strawberries are in their peak period. The name was universal among all tribal groups of Algonquin.

July: The Buck Moon

The horns of the deer begin to grow in July – velvet covered with tiny hairs. Frequent thunderstorms in New England led to the name Thunder Moon. Among some groups used the name Moon of hay.

Full Moon NamesAugust: The Sturgeon Moon

Sturgeon- big fish, common in the Great Lakes is easiest to be caught  this month. The reddish hue of the moon in the sultry haze of August, leading to the name Red Moon. Other names are Moon of green maize, Cereal moon.

September: The Harvest Moon

The harvest of the main food of the North American Indians – corn, beans, squash, rice – is ready for harvesting. Bright light of the moon at this time allow European farmers to work harvesting the production late at night. Moon Harvest always happens in September. Traditionally fete the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox, which actually happens in October once or twice in a decade.

October: The Hunter’s MoonFull Moon Names

Harvested fields, dripping leaves, deer, accumulated fat and ready for the winter or for hunting. Hunters easily passed through the stubble, foxes and other animals are more easily noticed.

November: The Beaver Moon

Beavers at this time of year are busy with preparations for the winter, so the Indians set traps to provide warm beaver’s leather before freezing of the lakes. Some called this time Frosty Moon.

December: The Cold Moon

Winter embraces everything and temperatures are very low. Sometimes it is called Moon of long nights because of the length of winter nights when the moon is visible on the horizon for much longer than  the sun.

Blue MoonFull Moon Names

Due to the 29-day lunar cycle exact dates of the full moon change every year. Most seasons have three full moons, but due to some variations seasons have four full moons. The term blue moon is used to denote extra full moon.

So what is the name of the full moon in the month you was born?

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