This month’s hunter’s moon bought me occupied with moon names, and questioning if the total moon in each month has its personal title. Spoiler: It does.
The title “harvest moon” is sensible—it’s the moon we’d see after we’d be harvesting crops if we didn’t reside in a post-industrial hellscape—however the meanings of different moon names are much less instantly apparent. Like why does the “sturgeon moon” rise in August? And what the hell is a “full worm moon?”
What’s the precise title of the Moon?
In English, the Earth’s moon is named “the Moon.” That’s it; nothing extra particular.
The Moon’s title dates again to a time after we didn’t notice different planets had moons, so there was no want to differentiate Earth’s moon from, say, Ganymede, one in all Jupiter’s 79 moons.
The place full moon names come from
Totally different cultures have completely different names for full moons, and there’s no “official” designation for any moon—so you may name the total moon no matter title you want. Essentially the most well-known and used moon names in america, although, derive largely from Native People, who informed time based mostly on lunar cycles quite than by the solar. In a way, these are the months named for the moons, versus the moon’s title inside the month.
It’s truly slightly extra difficult than that, as a result of moon names often got here from colonial interpretations of Native American language, and the colonists additionally introduced European moon names into the combo. Totally different teams of Native People had completely different names for the total moons, too, so the entire thing is fairly loosey-goosey.
Under are the moon names that caught on for every month, and some colourful options that aren’t as extensively used, in response to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. However first, let me get just a few non-traditional full moons out of the way in which.
Blue moon, black moon, and supermoon
These three moon names describe not often occurring sorts of full moons, and don’t come from Native People.
Blue moon: As a result of the Moon’s schedule doesn’t hew to Man’s calendar, often there are two full moons in a single month. That is referred to as a “blue moon,” and it occurs about as soon as each two-and-a-half years (or “as soon as in a blue moon.”) The subsequent blue moon with be on Aug. 31, 2023.
Black moon: When there is no such thing as a full moon in a month, it’s referred to as a black moon. It could actually solely happen in February, as a result of the moon is on a 29.5-day cycle, and February has 28 days (until it’s a bissextile year.) We get a black moon about as soon as each 19 years. The subsequent black moon will occur in 2037, which means there will probably be two full moons in January and March: Double blue moon! Jackpot!
“Black moon” can also imply the second new moon in a month. That may occur on Might 19, 2023.
Supermoon: When the Moon’s orbit brings it closest to earth and it’s a full moon, we name it a supermoon. It seems barely bigger than an everyday full moon, and it makes the tides extra excessive. The title “supermoon” was coined in 1979.
With the outliers out of the way in which, under are the names of the “regular” full moons.
January: Wolf moon
January’s full moon is known as “the wolf moon” as a result of, supposedly, wolves howl extra loudly and longer presently of yr. Wolves howl to mark territory, to assemble for looking, and to search out one another, however we don’t know if wolves howl at the moon. They face the moon whereas howling, although.
Finest various January moon names: Frost exploding moon, extreme moon, greetings moon.
When to see it: Jan.17, 2022
February: Full snow moon
Surprisingly, this moon will get its title from the truth that it tends to snow loads in February.
Finest various February moon names: Month of the bony moon, groundhog moon, hungry moon.
When to see it: Feb. 16, 2022
March: Full worm moon
In keeping with the Outdated Farmer’s Almanac, the total worm moon will get its title from both “the earthworms of warming spring soil,” or from larvae, “which emerge from the bark of bushes and different winter hideouts round this time.”
Finest various March moon names: Crow comes again moon, goose moon, snow crust moon.
When to see it: March 18, 2022
April: Full pink moon
The pink moon impressed a unbelievable Nick Drake album. It’s thought to have been named for the yearly look of floor phlox, lovely pink perennials which might be among the many earliest of the spring flowers.
Finest various April moon names: Damaged snowshoe moon, moon when the streams are once more navigable, sucker moon.
When to see it: April 16, 2022
Might: Full flower moon
This moon bought its title as a result of somebody stated, “Take a look at all of the flowers which might be rising now. Let’s title the moon for them!” And everybody else went, “Yeah, man, cool! Let’s do this!” Besides this one man who was like, “However I wish to name it ‘Moon of shedding ponies.’” (This dialog is completely traditionally correct, by the way in which.)
When to see it: Might 16, 2022
Finest various Might moon names: Moon of shedding ponies, egg laying moon, bud moon.
June: Full strawberry moon
It’s June; time to choose the strawberries, buddy. So get on the market and collect ‘em up.
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Finest various June moon names: Hoer moon, sizzling moon, egg laying moon, Outdated Moony Joe (I made that one up).
When to see it: June 14, 2022
July: Full buck moon
July’s full moon is known as this as a result of that is when a younger buck’s antlers are totally grown.
Finest various July moon names: Moon when the chokeberries are ripe, raspberry moon, thunder moon.
When to see it: July 13, 2022
August: Full sturgeon moon
This moon is known as “sturgeon” as a result of that is the month when the fish of lake Champlain and the Nice Lakes are most simply caught. Mmmm fried sturgeon.
Finest various August moon names: Ricing moon, mountain shadows moon, black cherry moon (RIP, Prince).
When to see it: Aug. 11, 2022
September: Harvest Moon
Essentially the most well-known of all full moons, harvest moon is known as as a result of September is harvest time particularly for corn, or “maize” when you desire.
Finest various names for September moons: Moon when the rice is laid as much as dry, yellow leaf moon, falling leafs moon.
When to see it: Sept. 10, 2022
October: Hunter’s moon
The hunter’s moon bought its title as a result of October is an effective month to hunt for meat for the approaching winter. Deer name October’s moon the “Oh shit! They’re attempting to kill us!” moon.
When to see it: Oct. 20, 2021
Finest various names for October’s moon: Falling leaves moon, freezing moon, migrating moon.
November: Full beaver moon
The total beaver moon was named on your mother.
Probably not. Actually it’s as a result of that is when the beavers have completed getting ready for winter and retreat into their lodges for an extended relaxation.
(I’m sorry for saying that factor about your mother earlier.)
Finest various names for November’s moon: Whitefish moon, deer rutting moon, frost moon.
When to see it: Nov. 19, 2021
December: Full chilly moon
This full moon’s title is as a result of it’s chilly in December. I’m no moon-name-critic, however this month’s moon has a disappointingly pedestrian moniker. It’s helpful, positive, however the place is the poetry?
Finest various names for December’s moon: Frost exploding bushes moon, moon the place the deer shed their antlers, lengthy evening moon.
When to see it: Dec. 18, 2021
