Lunar Day Fourteen

Abstract

Tonight is Full Moon and it goes by many different names (Fig. 15.1). During the month of January it is called the Full Wolf Moon - its name derived from the North American Indians who would hear the wolves howling in search of food in the cold, snow-covered, and barren landscape. In Europe it was referred to as the Moon After Yule. In February it is the Full Snow Moon, because the northern hemisphere is usually heavy in snow in the upper regions. Native Indian tribes of the north and east most sometimes referred to it as the Full Hunger Moon, as well. In many cultures, March is known as the “Worm Moon.” As ground temperatures begin to warm and produce a thaw in the northern hemisphere, earthworms return and encourage the return of robins. For the Indians of the far north, this was also considered the “Crow Moon.” The return of the black bird signaled the end of winter. Sometimes it has been called the “Crust Moon” because warmer temperatures melt existing snow during the day, leaving it to freeze at night. Perhaps you may have also heard it referred to as the “Sap Moon.” This marks the time of tapping maple trees to make syrup. To early American settlers, it was called the “Lenten Moon” and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.