Full moon names by the month and by the season
Lists of common full moon names — both by month and by season — for North America. And a word about full moon names in the Southern Hemisphere. The post Full moon names by the month and by the season first appeared on EarthSky .
Full moons have captivated the imagination of cultures worldwide for centuries, often inspiring the naming of these celestial events. In North America, various Native American tribes and European traditions have bestowed unique names upon each full moon. These names are often rooted in the seasonal cues and natural phenomena occurring during that time of year.
January's full moon is called the Wolf Moon, reflecting the howling of hungry wolves during the harshest winter months. Other January moon names include Moon After Yule, Old Moon, Cold Moon, and Ice Moon.
February's full moon often goes by the name Snow Moon, honoring the heavy snowfall that typically blankets many regions of North America in February. Other names associated with February's full moon are Hunger Moon, Storm Moon, Ice Moon, Bald Eagle Moon, and Bear Moon.
March's full moon is widely recognized as the Worm Moon, signifying the emergence of earthworms as spring approaches. Other names for March's full moon include Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Lenten Moon, Crust Moon, and Sugar Moon.
The April full moon is most commonly known as the Pink Moon, although it doesn't refer to the moon's actual color. Instead, it's named after Phlox subulata, one of the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring. Other April moon names are Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pesach/Passover Moon, Seed Moon, and Breaking Ice Moon.
May's full moon is best known as the Flower Moon, reflecting the abundance of blooming flowers across North America in May. Other names associated with May's full moon are Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, Mother's Moon, Hare Moon, Bright Moon, and Frog Moon.
In June, the full moon is most widely known as the Strawberry Moon, marking the brief strawberry harvesting season in North America. Other June moon names include Rose Moon, Hot Moon, Mead Moon, Honey Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Planting Moon.
Finally, July's full moon is most commonly referred to as the Buck Moon, signifying the period when male deer (bucks) begin to grow new antlers with velvety fur. Alternative July moon names are Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and occasionally, Hay Moon.
Written by urgent.news from EarthSky's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
