February
~ Snow or Ice Moon
This moon its most common called
the Snow moon, but the tribes that used this name for the January moon
called this moon the Hunger Moon as the food supply was
often low this time of year.
March
~ Worm, Crow or Seed Moon
As the earth starts
to
warm the earthworm casts appear, inviting the return of the robins. Some tribes called this Moon the
Full Crow Moon, because the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter. It
was also known as the Seed Moon as it was now time for sowing.
April
~ Hare or Pink Moon
The
Hare was a sacred animal associated
in
Roman legends with springtime and fertility. In other areas, this moon
was known as the Pink Moon,
named after the flowers that began to appear, including the widespread grass pink or wild
ground phlox. Other variations indicate more signs of full spring, such
as Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon (common among coastal
tribes).
May
~ Flower, Milk or Dyad Moon
Flowers come into full bloom and corn is ready to plant. Also called the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
Some call it the Dyad moon, (the
Latin word for a pair) refers to the twin
stars
of the constellation of Castor and Pollux.
June
~ Mead or Strawberry Moon
During
late June and most of July the
meadows,
or meads, were mowed for hay. Also called The Strawberry Moon,
as Strawberry picking season reaches its peak during this time. This is one
of the few names that was universal to all Algonquin tribes.
July
~ Wort, Hay or Buck Moon
When
the sun
was
in Leo, the worts
(from
the Anglo-Saxon wyrt plant)
were
gathered to be dried and stored. Some tribes also called
it the Hay Moon Perhaps most commonly
known as the
Buck Moon, because deer start growing velvety hair-covered antlers in July.
August
~ Sturgeon or Barley Moon
Sturgeon, a large fish of major bodies of
water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes called it the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rose, it appeared reddish
through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain
Moon. Persephone,
virgin Goddess of rebirth, carries
a sheaf of barley as a symbol of the harvest.
September
~ Corn or Harvest Moon
November
~ Beaver or Oak Moon
Beavers were actively preparing for winter
and they provided a source of warm winter furs for trappers. This
moon is sometimes also referred to as the
Frosty Moon. Others call it the
Oak Moon, named after the sacred tree of the Druids which withstands winter storms.
December
~ Cold or Long Night Moon
As Winter arrives the temperatures plummet.
Some also call this the Long Night Moon as the
nights lengthen and the moon spends more time above the horizon.
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