Moon Names
These names tell us more about the land than the standard Julian/Georgian calendar names. January is named for the god Janus, but what does it tell about the land we live in? For each entry in my nature journal, I now note the moon. I count the moon, from the new moon, through to the next new moon phase. But some people count from full moon to full moon. Do what connects you to the land that you live in. Try these terms and see if it affects how you think about life in tune with the seasons. Or come up with your own based on where you live. Full Wolf Moon - January Apparently, wolf packs howled hungrily outside of Indian villages at night. No wonder many Indian villages were palisaded with wooden fences. Full Snow Moon or FullHunger Moon - February The month of the heaviest snowfall. It is also the toughest month to find food. For animals and humans. Feed the birds. Full Worm or Full Sap Moon- March Moon This is when the ground begins to thaw and we see the first tiny earthworms wiggling along the ground and their spiral casts appears. The Robins should also be back when the earthworms appear. This is also the time when sap begins to rise in the trees and Maple sap is tapped to make syrup. Full Pink Moon or Full Fish Moon - April When the Pink Creeping Ground Phlox blooms. Also when the shad begin to run and swim up stream to spawn. This happens in Philadelphia in the Delaware River. The Shadbush or Serviceberry also blooms at this time. Full Flower Moon - May There are an abundance of blooming flowers during this time. It is also called Full Corn Planting Moon. Full Strawberry Moon - June Strawberries are ripe and ready to be picked! The Full Buck Moon or Full Thunder Moon - July The time when male deer begin growing their fighting antlers in preparation for mating season. And it is also the time of summer thunderstorms Full Sturgeon Moon or Green Corn Moon - August Fresh corn on the cob is ready for eating. Full Corn Moon - September (often the Harvest Moon) Corn is ready for harvest. Full Harvest Moon - October (often the Harvest moon) Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Eastern Indian staples are now ready for gathering. The Harvest moon is the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. Full Beaver Moon or Frosty Moon- November Beavers actively prepare for winter and so should we. The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December The long night of the Winter solstice marks the longest night of the year. The full moon names were explained courtesy of the Farmer's Almanac - http://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-names. From Moon Names Return to Nature Calendar
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