Enjoy the Full Moon Tonight

I just realized that tonight is the Full Moon, so I thought I would share the traditional names for the full moon  in April. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, some Native American peoples referred this the April full moon as Full Pink Moon.  Lovely name, and it is NOT because of the color but rather because of a certain wildflower that has "pinked" petals! (Pinked means notched or serrated, like pinking shears if you know what those are!) 

Photographer: Bransford,W.D. and Dolphia,
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Here in the eastern U.S., this full moon often coincides with the appearance of moss pinks, or wild ground phlox, a woodland wildflower. I remember seeing them on spring walks through the forest, back when I lived in the "real" country (now I have yard rather than a forest). I think they're usually pinkish or purplish, but our were actually pale pink, almost white sometimes. Here are some purple ones (Everything purple today in honor of Prince.)

The April full moon, according to the Almanac, was also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon!

Wolf Moon

I saw the full moon last night, very beautiful in a crisp cold night sky, and wanted to share a traditional name for the Full Moon of January:  Wolf Moon.  I went to look for a vintage picture of a wolf in my collection, and all that I found were rather scary illustrations from fairy tales and Aesop's fables.  Yes, I know wolves can be pretty scary (have you seen "The Grey"? ~ shudder) but for our moon wolf I wanted less of the Big Bad Wolf and more of the wise wolf spirit.  I found this gorgeous photograph, which has been generously released into the public domain by its author, Retron at the wikipedia project, and can be used for any purpose.  Click the picture to enlarge, resize as needed, and enjoy.

Long Nights

The Winter Solstice is almost upon us -- the longest night (and shortest day) of the year, and the original winter festival! This is the darkest time of the year, but also the turning point when the days begin to lengthen again -- Light overcomes Darkness as the Sun is "reborn" and moves toward the promise of Spring, when Light finally triumphs at the Spring Equinox.  The Winter Solstice is a perfect time for any Festival of Lights, and candles, twinkling lights, Yuletide fires, evergreens, etc.

Tonight go outside and you'll see the Moon is full.  The full moon of December is sometimes called the Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon.  The term Long Night Moon is especially appropriate because not only are the midwinter nights especially long, but also because the moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low sun.

The nights are cold, but the stars are bright.

Exclusive image from our Victorian Holidays Volume One collection available on CD.

The Moon in June

You may have heard that tonight's full moon is a "Supermoon."  That's a fairly new term for what astronomers call a perigee moon ~ the moon's "perigee" is the closest point to earth in the moon's orbit.  When the moon's perigee (closest point) coincides with a full moon, which it does about once a year, you get a full moon that can appear somewhat bigger and brighter than usual.

Did you know all the Full Moons (in each month of the year) have names in many cultures?  The full moon in June was the Strawberry Moon for Algonquin Native American groups and Ripe Berry Moon for the Dakotah, as it was a signal to look for ripening fruit.  The Cherokee called it the Green Corn Moon.  In Europe it was sometimes called the Full Rose Moon.  All of those are still appropriate here in Tennessee.

And why is June traditionally the month for weddings?  Because it is named for Juno, the Roman goddess of wives and marriage.  Happy full moon, from a June bride!

Full Moon in May: Flower Moon or Milk Moon

I love the moon, obviously I guess, and I like to include some moon lore now and then.  Did you know that the full moons of each month have names?  The full moon in May (which is tonight, by the way!) is sometimes called the Flower Moon. Obviously, many wildflowers are in full bloom this time of year, wherever you are. 

Another name for the May full moon -- Milk Moon -- has a less obvious origin. Cows, goats and other grazing animals can find good green pastures this time of year, to help them make plenty of milk for their babies born in the early spring. And in far northern countries without many crops until later in the summer, milk would be a major part of their diet this time of year. The Old English name for the month of May meant "the month in which cows can be milked three times a day"!

The current name comes from the Greek goddess Maia, a Greek goddess whom I always associate with the wildflowers that blanket the hills of Crete (and Tennessee).

Just FYI, May is Teacher Appreciation Month, Historic Preservation Month, and Eat Locally Month. So thank a teacher for all their hard work and dedication, enjoy some beautiful old buildings and learn about the past, and visit your local farmer's market (or better yet plant a vegetable garden!)  And don't forget to enjoy the May full moon this weekend if you can.

Moon Lore: Flower Moon in May

We've been enjoying the flowers in full bloom all around us lately - roses, peonies, iris, azaleas, even the little clover flowers.

It's no surprise that the full moon in May was called the Full Flower Moon! It will be on May 27.

Learn about the Victorian Language of Flowers and Fans in our feature article: http://www.summertownsun.com/FEATURE_victorian_language_of_flowers.htm

Blue Moon

A full moon on New Year's Eve! How wonderful. A traditional name for the full moon after Christmas was Wolf Moon, evoking images of wolves howling in a moonlit winter landscape. It was also known as the Old Moon or simply the Moon After Yule.

Tonight's full moon is also a "Blue Moon." A Blue Moon is when there is a second full moon in one month. The first one this month was December 2, and we get another one tonight! So if there's something you do just "once in a blue moon"... tonight's the night.

September 6: The Feast of Artemis

Artemis is known as the Greek goddess of the hunt and the new moon, daughter of Leto and sister of Apollo. She is most likely a very ancient Anatolian goddess, one of the ancient goddesses of the near east much older than the Greek civilization.

She was a virgin goddess ~ which meant she was unmarried, free, untamed, wild ~ whole unto herself. One of her titles was 'many-breasted' because she nurtured animals and humans, and she was the protector of women in childbirth. Although she is usually associated with the new crescent moon, in her more ancient guise she was not only Maiden but also Mother and Crone, associated with all phases of the moon.

Things sacred to Artemis include: animals, especially bears, wolves, deer, dogs, birds and all wild animals; young girls and unmarried women; silver, pearl and moonstone; forests, woodland sanctuaries; artemisia, moneyplant, cypress, cedar, laurel; unplowed fields, blank pages, potential and possibility

Strawberry/Rose Moon

Tonight's full moon is the Strawberry Moon! In Europe it was called the Rose Moon. Obviously, it's the time when strawberries are ripe and the wild roses bloom.

This is the month named in honor of Juno, the Roman Queen of Heaven, goddess of wives and marriage (thus making it a lucky month for weddings and June brides).




It's warm at night and the moon is bright ... perfect for midnight walks and moonlit dancing ... Once upon a time I lived near a large rose garden, and used to wander through it in the early morning hours, to enjoy the roses covered with dew. I've always found moonlight good for the soul.

(Thus the name: Lunagirl!)

Full Long Night Moon

Tomorrow night is the full moon of December, which has sometimes been called the Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon. The nights now are cold and long as we move toward the Winter Equinox, the longest night of the year (but also the day when the days begin to lengthen again!)

The term Long Night Moon is especially appropriate because not only are the midwinter nights especially long, but also because the moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low sun.

Brrrrr! The nights are cold, but the stars are bright.

Exclusive image from our Victorian Holidays Volume One collection available on CD.