The phrase “Strawberry Moon” may have caught your attention recently, making waves across social media.
Despite its appealing name, the Strawberry Moon is simply the full moon that occurs in June, rather than an extraordinary event.
This year’s full moon, however, was unique because it coincides with the winter solstice, an occurrence that happens roughly once every two decades.
Full moons have different names due to cultural and historical practices of tracking time and seasonal changes. These names often reflect the activities, natural phenomena, and agricultural cycles of the corresponding months. Here’s a detailed look at the names and meanings of full moons throughout the year:
January: Wolf Moon
- Name Origin: Native Americans and Medieval Europeans
- Meaning: Named because wolves were heard howling more during this time of year, likely due to the scarcity of food.
February: Snow Moon
- Name Origin: North America
- Meaning: Reflects the snowy weather common in February. Also known as Storm Moon or Hunger Moon due to harsh conditions and food shortages.
March: Worm Moon
- Name Origin: End of winter
- Meaning: Named for the time when earthworms start to emerge as the ground thaws. Also called the Milk Moon.
April: Pink Moon
- Name Origin: Native Americans
- Meaning: Named after pink wild ground phlox flowers that bloom in early spring across the United States and Canada. Also called Egg Moon and Fish Moon.
May: Flower Moon
- Name Origin: Blooming flowers
- Meaning: Reflects the abundance of flowers during this month. Other names include Hare Moon, Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.
June: Strawberry Moon
- Name Origin: Native American Algonquin tribes
- Meaning: Named for the strawberry harvest that takes place during this time. Also called the Honey Moon, Rose Moon, and Mead Moon.
July: Buck Moon
- Name Origin: Deer antler growth
- Meaning: Named for the time when bucks grow new antlers. Also called Thunder Moon due to summer thunderstorms.
August: Sturgeon Moon
- Name Origin: North America
- Meaning: Named for the sturgeon fish that were caught during this time. Also known as Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Black Cherries Moon.
September: Corn Moon
- Name Origin: Harvest season
- Meaning: Named for the corn harvest. If it’s the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox, it’s called the Harvest Moon.
October: Hunter’s Moon
- Name Origin: Hunting season
- Meaning: Named for the time when people hunted to prepare for winter. Sometimes also called the Harvest Moon.
November: Beaver Moon
- Name Origin: Beaver dam building
- Meaning: Named for the time when beavers are active in building dams. Also called Frost Moon.
December: Cold Moon
- Name Origin: Winter chill
- Meaning: Reflects the cold weather of December. Other names include Long Night Moon and Oak Moon.
Blue Moon
- Definition: When there are two full moons in a single calendar month, the second is called a Blue Moon.
These names provided a way for various cultures to mark the passage of time and the changing seasons, aiding in agricultural and hunting activities.
