MMXXVI VOL21 No.941

Bay of Pigs invasion was 65 years ago

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The full moon names

The origins of the full moon names that appeared in old farmer's almanacs. The lunar labels of the only three known cultures that named the moons; Native Americans, Celts and Anglo-Saxons. The concept of the Blue Moon. The custom full moon names that appear in the header of Col2.com
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The full moon names

Regular readers of Col2.com probably noticed that the header of this website changes with full moons and other events. This article explains the case of full moons.

The practice of naming each month’s full moon persists today thanks to 20th-century farmers’ almanacs. Yet long before these names were popularized, Celtic and Anglo-Saxon cultures in Europe had assigned titles to the full moons for centuries. These names were related to seasonal festivals, agricultural duties, and spiritual observances.

This article explores the origins of the full moon names. It examines the different names used by the only three known cultures that named the full moons; Native Americans, Celts and Anglo-Saxons. Then, it traces the twisted development of the Blue Moon concept and outlines the custom full moon names featured monthly in Col2.com headers.

7What are the full moon names

Full Moon names are traditional labels given to each full moon of the year, reflecting seasonal changes, natural phenomena, rituals and cultural practices tied to that time.

These names originated as a form of lunar timekeeping among Celts, Anglo-Saxons and Indigenous peoples of North America. However, these cultures’ calendar didn’t rely solely on lunar cycles. They also tracked solar events like solstices, equinoxes, observed star movements and followed natural signs such as animal migrations or plant blooming. Time was seen as cyclical, rooted in nature’s rhythms.

full moon names
A modern version of the full moon names, January-June.

Full moon names acted as seasonal indicators to mark a time and an activity associated with that particular period.

For example, Strawberry Moon in June was when wild strawberries ripen. Harvest Moon in September indicated when crops were gathered. The Wolf Moon in January was when wolves were most often heard howling during winter.

full moon names
A modern version of the full moon names, July-December.

Captain Jonathan Carver, a British explorer who traveled through the Great Lakes region in the 1760s, documented full moon names similar to Celtic and Anglo-Saxon names, used by the Dakota (Naudowessie) and other tribes, such as the Snow Moon for February, noting it was named “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter”.

The moon names were passed down through oral traditions, accompanied by legends, rituals and knowledge about nature.

6The full moon names were first published by books and old almanacs

Native American full moon names were first published in books and old U.S. almanacs. One of the earliest printings appeared in Daniel Carter Beard’s 1918 Scout manual “The American Boy’s Book of Signs, Signals and Symbols”.

These folkloric titles gained editorial traction in the 1930s when the Maine Farmers’ Almanac began regularly printing them alongside lunar calendars. The Old Farmer’s Almanac adopted and popularized the format sometime at the end of the 20th century. These names were modified or simplified mixing colonial terms and agricultural cycles.

These are the mainstream full moon names right now;

  • January – Wolf Moon – Named for the howling of wolves during winter – Colonial/Algonquin tradition
  • February – Snow Moon – Reflects heavy snowfall, often the snowiest month – Dakota/Colonial tradition
  • March – Worm Moon – Marks thawing soil and emergence of worms or larvae – Algonquin/Colonial tradition
  • April – Pink Moon – Named after blooming moss pink (wild ground phlox) – Algonquin tradition
  • May – Flower Moon – Celebrates abundant spring blossoms – Algonquin/Ojibwe tradition
  • June – Strawberry Moon – Time to gather ripening strawberries – Algonquin/Dakota tradition
  • July – Buck Moon – When male deer grow new antlers – Colonial/Algonquin tradition
  • August – Sturgeon Moon – Peak time for catching sturgeon in Great Lakes – Algonquin tradition
  • September – Corn Moon – Marks the corn harvest season – Algonquin/Dakota tradition
  • October – Hunter’s Moon – Time for hunting and storing provisions – Colonial/Algonquin tradition
  • November – Beaver Moon – When beavers prepare for winter and build lodges. Trappers set beaver traps – Colonial/Algonquin tradition
  • December – Cold Moon – Reflects the deepening cold and long nights – Mohawk/Colonial tradition

The widespread familiarity of full moon names is largely a late 20th-century and early 21st-century phenomenon, popularized through the internet, likely thanks to the online edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which features a dedicated section listing the names.

full moon names
The Maine Farmers’ Almanac was among the first publications to feature full moon names, beginning in the 1930s.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an American annual publication founded in 1792 by Robert B. Thomas, during George Washington’s presidency. Known for its daily weather forecasts, astronomical data, planting charts and rural wisdom, it remains in print today and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously published periodical in North America.

5Differences in the names of full moons among Native American tribes

Full moon naming was not universal across Native American traditions. Tribes and regions had their own interpretations, shaped by local ecological and seasonal patterns.

These full moon names are less widely adopted in modern calendars;

  • January – Great Spirit Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • January – Center Moon – Center means “Midwinter”, Assiniboine tradition
  • January – Freeze Up Moon – Algonquin tradition
  • February – Sucker Fish Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • February – Bald Eagle Moon – Cree tradition
  • February – Bear Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • March – Hard Crust on the Snow Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • March – Crow Comes Back Moon – Northern Ojibwe tradition
  • March – Sugar Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • April – Maple Sap Boiling Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • April – Moon When Ducks Come Back – Lakota tradition
  • May – Budding Moon – Cree tradition
  • May – Moon of Shedding Ponies – Oglala tradition
  • June – Green Corn Moon – Cherokee tradition
  • June – Birth Moon – Tlingit tradition
  • July – Thunder Moon – Western Abenaki tradition
  • July – Moon When Chokecherries Are Ripe – Dakota tradition
  • August – Ricing Moon – Anishinaabe tradition
  • August – Black Cherries Moon – Assiniboine tradition
  • September – Moon When Rice Is Laid Up to Dry – Dakota tradition
  • September – Leaves Turning Moon – Anishinaabe tradition
  • October – Falling Leaves Moon – Anishinaabe tradition
  • October – Freezing Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • November – Whitefish Moon – Algonquin tradition
  • November – Deer Rutting Moon – Dakota tradition
  • December – Little Spirits Moon – Ojibwe tradition
  • December – Frost Exploding Trees Moon – Cree tradition

Some cultures used 13 moon names per year, aligning with the lunar cycle rather than the Gregorian calendar.

Native American tribes regarded each full moon as a sacred window for observation and ceremony, extending rites over several nights to align with the moon’s visual fullness.

Moon names varied by tribe and geography. Each one marked shifts in season, ecology or livelihood. Rituals tied to these moons reflected the unique landscapes and cycles of local tradition.

full moon names
Many of the full moon names popular today are based on Algonquian seasonal traditions, passed down through tribes first contacted by British settlers in the 17th century.

Celebrations involved tribal gatherings that featured music and storytelling. Drums, chants and spoken histories connected generations and invoked the guidance of ancestral spirits.

Cleansing rituals included smudging with sage or sweetgrass and extended sweat lodge sessions. These practices fostered renewal for both body and spirit during the moon’s peak phase.

Offerings of food, water or tobacco acknowledged the moon’s power in natural cycles. Gratitude and respect were woven into each act, recognizing lunar influence on fertility, survival and prosperity.

4The case of the Blue Moon

The phrase “Blue Moon” dates back to 16th-century England. Its earliest known use appeared in 1528 in a satirical pamphlet by William Roy and Jerome Barlow titled “Rede Me and Be Not Wrothe”. The expression was used to mock absurd claims; “Yf they saye the mone is belewe, We must beleve that it is true.”

Originally, a blue moon meant something impossible, not something rare. Believing the moon could be blue was as ridiculous as accepting any other obvious falsehood.

By the 19th century, the meaning had shifted. The phrase “once in a blue moon” began to describe something that happens very rarely.

full moon names
Blue Moon Beer adopted its lunar logo shortly after launching in 1995. Brewmaster Keith Villa created this traditional wheat beer at the Sandlot Brewery inside Coors Field, Denver. Its original name was Bellyslide Belgian White. During a tasting, a guest joked that “a beer this good only comes around once in a blue moon”, prompting the brand’s name. Inspired by Belgian witbier, this traditional wheat beer features a cloudy glow with a blend of citrus and spice.

Its modern meaning, the second full moon in a calendar month, emerged only in the 20th century and is actually based on a mistake.

In 1937, the Maine Farmers’ Almanac used “Blue Moon” to describe the third full moon in a season containing four. This naming preserved traditional seasonal moon titles without disruption.

In 1946, amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett misinterpreted this and published in “Sky & Telescope” magazine that a Blue Moon was the second full moon of a calendar month. That definition stuck, especially after gaining traction on the radio program StarDate in 1980 and appearing in Trivial Pursuit in 1986.

In reality, the moon only rarely appears blue and that’s due to unusual atmospheric conditions such as volcanic eruptions or large-scale forest fires. These events release particles that scatter red light, allowing a bluish tint to appear on the full moon.

3Full moon names in Celtic tradition

The only known European cultures to assign names to monthly full moons were the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon peoples. Modern Pagan and Wiccan calendars have since expanded these naming customs but they’re rooted in these few ancestral traditions.

The Celts (800BC-500AD) believed each moon carried distinct energies and they held ceremonies under moonlight to honor deities and nature’s cycles. Full moon guided rituals, planting, harvesting and spiritual practices.

  • January – Quiet Moon – a time of inner stillness and spiritual renewal before the year’s labors commence
  • February – Moon of Ice – honors Imbolc, marking the thawing earth and the setting of intentions for the year ahead
  • March – Seed Moon – aligns with Ostara; invites both literal sowing and the planting of new ideas and projects
  • April – Growing Moon – symbolizes love, conception, and the burgeoning of life in spring’s full swing
  • May – Flower Moon – celebrates Beltane; a period for nurturing relationships and personal blossoming
  • June – Mead Moon (or Horse Moon) – tied to Litha; newlyweds drank mead for health and abundance during the longest days
  • July – Claiming Moon – “claiming” refers to legal reckonings and personal goal-setting in high summer
  • August – Grain Moon (or Dispute Moon) – first harvest and communal feasting, with disputes traditionally settled at Lughnasadh
  • September – Singing Moon – coincides with Mabon; marked by song, gratitude, and the balance of light and dark
  • October – Seed-Fall Moon (or Harvest/Hunter’s Moon) – signals final gathering, ancestor‐honoring at Samhain, and winter preparations
  • November – Oak Moon (or Dark Moon) – named for the sacred oak; a period of release, introspection, and resilience against the gathering cold
  • December – Cold Moon (or Long-Night Moon) – celebrates Yule and the return of light, inviting warmth, togetherness, and hope

Ancient Celtic communities observed the full moon across several nights, using its sustained brilliance to guide ceremonial rhythms and seasonal rites. These gatherings often aligned with natural cycles, reinforcing the moon’s role in agricultural and spiritual life.

Druidic circles invoked elemental forces by calling East, South, West, North, Above, Below and the central fire. Participants joined in shared recitations meant to attract harmonious energies.

full moon names
Celtic druids.

Communal fires formed the heart of full-moon feasts. Offerings of meat, mead and gathered foods were placed near the flames, which symbolized resilience as daylight diminished.

To confirm the moment of lunar fullness, Celts observed the moon’s rising and setting from familiar hills or stone alignments. Only when its shape was visibly passing did the rituals conclude.

2Full moon names in Anglo-saxon tradition

The Anglo-saxon (410AD-1066AD) full moon observance helped communities align their activities with nature’s cycles, from planting and harvesting to celebrating and surviving.

  • January – Yule Moon – the full moon during the midwinter feast of Yule (Giuli)
  • February – Cake Moon – named for cakes offered to deities during Solmōnaþ rites
  • March – Hreda’s Moon – dedicated to the goddess Hrēða at the start of spring (Hrēðmōnaþ)
  • April – Easter Moon – honors the goddess Ēostre, marking renewal (Ēosturmōnaþ)
  • May – Three-Milking Moon – cattle were milked thrice daily in Thrēmilcemōnaþ
  • June – First Līða Moon – falls around the summer solstice during Ēadolīða
  • July – Second Līða Moon – continues midsummer festivities and hay harvest (Līða)
  • August – Herb Moon – Wēodmōnaþ, the month for gathering medicinal plants and “weeds”
  • September – Hallow Moon – Haligmōnaþ, a sacred time of gratitude before winter
  • October – Winterfylleth – the “winter full moon” marking winter’s start and Samhain‐like observances
  • November – Blót Moon – Blōtmōnaþ, when offerings (blót) were made to gods and ancestors
  • December – Yule Moon – returns to Giuli, closing the year’s midwinter celebrations

In early medieval England, Anglo-Saxon society observed full moons as focal points for seasonal naming and social rituals. These phases were tracked over nights, not fixed to a single moment.

October’s moon was known as Winterfylleth; its appearance marked the beginning of winter. This name anchored seasonal transitions to lunar visibility.

Communities gathered during these moons to share feasts and make offerings, often of livestock. Such practices were meant to invoke protection and prosperity as colder months approached.

full moon names
The Battle of Brunanburh in 937AD. King Æthelstan’s Anglo-Saxon forces decisively defeated a coalition of Norse, Scots and Britons, securing the unification of England.

Full-moon nights also served practical roles. Agricultural work, dues and obligations were planned in the moonlight.

Easter, the modern April celebration, derives from the Anglo-Saxon full moon named for the spring goddess Ēostre. As Christianization spread, the name endured and remains today.

1Col2.com custom full moon names

Col2.com custom full moon names mix the Native American and Celtic traditions. In strictly scientific terms, the full moon is an astronomical event that occurs on a specific date, at a specific time that lasts only one second. Moreover, at that exact moment, it is not nighttime across the planet so it is only visible in regions in twilight.

Ancient cultures observed the full moon for two or three days, from the moment its fullness was evident until its glow began to wane.

During this period, the rituals associated with each full moon were carried out and the tasks that gave the moon its name were initiated. For example, the harvest moon marked the start of the gathering period.

These are Col2.com custom full moon names;

  • January – Wolf Moon
  • February – Snow Moon
  • March – Crow Moon
  • April – Pink Moon
  • May – Flower Moon
  • June – Thunder Moon
  • July – Buck Moon
  • August – Fire Moon
  • September – Harvest Moon
  • October – Hunter’s Moon
  • November – Dark Moon
  • December – Cold Moon

Col2.com does not seek to observe the astronomically exact lunar cycle but to follow American and Celtic traditions, as a nod to the old almanacs. Each full moon changes the site’s header for roughly two days; from several hours before the start of the cycle until it has clearly passed.

This ensures that readers of Col2.com around the world can see the full moon for at least one night, since this site, published in two of the most widely spoken languages on the planet, English and Spanish, is read from New Zealand to Hawaii.

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