![]() ![]() A Moon name used by one tribe might differ from one used by another tribe for the same time period, or be the same name but represent a different time period. Some would use 12 names for the year while others might use 5, 6, or 7 also, certain names might change the next year. Certain tribes that used the lunar calendar added an extra Moon every few years, to keep it in sync with the seasons.Įach tribe that did name the full or new Moons (and/or lunar months) had its own naming preferences. Some tribes defined a year as 12 Moons, while others assigned it 13. For some tribes, the year contained 4 seasons and started at a certain season, such as spring or fall. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. The early Native Americans did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. (Note that these last two conditions are not according to Native American tradition.) Similarly, the Hunter’s Moon always follows the Harvest Moon. (Astronomical seasons do not match up with the lunar month.) If the Harvest Moon occurs in October, the September full Moon is usually called the Corn Moon instead. Most years, it falls in September every three years, it falls in October. *According to one tradition, which the Old Farmer’s Almanac honors, the Harvest Moon is always the full Moon that occurs closest to the September equinox. This is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. This was the time when beavers finished preparations for winter and retreated into their lodges. Now is the time for hunting and laying in a store of provisions for the long months ahead. This is the month when the game is fattened up for winter. This time also corresponds with the traditional harvesting of corn. In 2022, the Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs closest to the September equinox. The sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were said to be most readily caught during this full Moon. This was the time to gather ripening strawberries in what is now the northeastern United States.Īt this time, a buck’s (male deer’s) antlers are in full growth mode. ![]() Moon When the Streams are Again Navigableįlowers spring forth in abundance this month.This full Moon heralded the appearance of the “moss pink,” or wild ground phlox-one of the first spring wildflowers. Alternatively, in the late 1700s, Jonathan Carver wrote that this Moon actually refers to a different sort of “worm”-larvae-which emerge from the bark of trees and other winter hideouts around this time. Traditionally thought to be named after the earthworms of warming spring soil. Rather, wolves use howls to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and gather for hunting.įebruary is typically a time of heavy snowfall. Many sources state that wolves howled due to hunger. The howling of wolves was often heard at this time of year. They are only roughly aligned here with the months of the Gregorian calendar you’ll notice that some names are repeated in multiple months.Ĭlick on the linked names below for our monthly Full Moon Guides and see our Full Moon Calendar to find out the date of the next full Moon! Moon Names by Month Month Many of the names listed here are English interpretations of the words used in Native American languages. Some names listed here may reflect usage at one time in history, but may no longer be used by a designated group today. Additionally, a name for the lunar month might vary each year or between bands or other groups within the same nation. ![]() Note that for Native American names, each Moon name was traditionally applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, the month starting either with the new Moon or full Moon. For example, the name of January’s Wolf Moon is not a traditional Native American name it’s thought to have English origins and brought to North America by European settlers. The Moon names we use in The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from Native American, Colonial American, or other traditional North American sources passed down through generations. ![]() Today, we think of Moon names as “nicknames” for the Moon. Historically, names for the full or new Moons were used to track the seasons. Advertisement Where Do Moon Names Come From? ![]()
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