13 Shades Of The Moon

          For creatures that get apprehensive about the number 13, there sure are a lot of things with that number, like the number of steps to the hangman’s noose, or the number of the zodiac, (including the sun), or the number of full moons throughout the year.
          You may be asking yourself what the full moon has to do with the number 13.   Well, there are 13 “kinds” of full moon throughout the year.   A full moon happens, usually, once every month, being that the lunar cycle is, about, 29 days.   Many of us don’t give a second thought to what month a full moon appears in: a full moon is a full moon.   Yet, some people have gone to the trouble of labeling them.   Each full moon, depending on the month it appears in, has a different name.   I’m going to list, and talk about them, briefly.

Wolf Moon

This full moon is called such because of the amount of howling wolves that happen during the month.   It is, also, sometimes, called the Old Moon.   This moon may be the origin of part of the Werewolf myth.   The nights are longest during this month, and “normal” people would have kept themselves inside.

Snow Moon

This moon’s name comes form the large amount of snow that falls during February.   Although, in New England, by February, most of the snow has already fallen, usually.   This moon is also known as the Hunger Moon.   Because of the scarcity of food, creatures one doesn’t normally see might be on the prowl.   Yet another possible origin to Werewolf-ism.

Worm Moon

This moon’s label comes from the fact that the earth worms begin coming out of the ground, marking the beginning of the end of the winter season.   Not much really sinister here, except, like the worms, people begin spending more time outside their homes, possibly because they were, also, going stir-crazy

Pink Moon

One of the earliest flowers to appear in spring, the phlox, is pink, which is how this moon was named.   This is, also, the moon that is used to decide when Easter will be, supposedly.   Easter is, sometimes, in March.   How they use this moon to figure that out, I don’t know.   I’ll stick with Beltane.

Flower Moon

This moon occurs in May.   So, the naming is obvious: “May flowers…” and all that.   Depending on when this moon occurs in the month, it could also have an effect on Beltane, which is a May Day celebration.   If Samhain is the celebration of Death, Beltane is the celebration of Life.   No coincidences here….

Strawberry Moon

This moon occurs during the month of traditional strawberry harvesting.   There isn’t much to say here except that the moon should be named after strawberry wine, and the drinking there of, during said full moon.   This is, also, the month of weddings and, therefore, the Honey moon.   Truly.

Buck Moon

This moon is so named because the bucks’ antlers would be fully grown.   Depending on where you live, this moon could mark deer hunting season.

Sturgeon Moon

This moon signified that the sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes were easier to catch.   There isn’t much else to say here.   I guess this is the best month for fishing because the bugs are out in full force.

Harvest Moon

As you may have guessed, this moon’s name comes from the fact that crops planted during the summer were ready to be harvested.   Of course, this one is my favorite: it marks the beginning of the best season of the year: Fall.   Out with the green and in with the auburns and yellows

Hunter’s Moon

Again, here, this moon was named for the hunting that was done to prepare for the winter.   This is October’s moon.   This, most-likely, is where the skins and furs came from for a certain, yearly celebration

Beaver Moon

Beaver traps were set this month in order to collect furs before the waters froze.   This is a last ditch effort to try and capture some sort of food and furs for the winter.   Obviously, this moon was named before turkeys became a thing.

Cold Moon

Obviously, being December’s moon, this moon is so called because of the cold that began to set in.   This is the moon of Yule, also called the Winter Solstice, or, more recently, Christmas.   After you’ve hunted and harvested everything, all that’s left to do is sit back and get toasted….

Blue Moon

This is lucky number 13, which is just as rare.   You must have heard the expression, “Once in a Blue Moon.”   Well, that expression refers to this moon, which occurs when an extra full moon appears in a season.   For example, there could be four full moons in the spring season.   It would be the third moon that is considered the Blue Moon.

          Obviously, there is only one moon for us, (although, there is some speculation that a smaller, second moon has been spotted circling Earth).   Each of these names is for the same moon.   They just represent different times of year and circumstances, (in case that wasn’t obvious).   The Moon, itself, is mysterious and awe-filling.   It’s just the sort of thing to talk about on… Friday the 13th.   Spook on.