Way back when, before cell phones, and before even the European plunder of the Americas, there were Native Americans, and they did not have any fancy devices to tell them what day it was. They had to keep track of the time, and the seasons, by memory and word of mouth. There was a lot more at stake. Not properly preparing for the cold long winters could mean not making it to see the next summer. So, many tribes created "nicknames" for each full moon, to aid with the memory of what was happening in Mother Nature during that time, as well as what was to come. Below we have each moniker with a brief explanation.
The January Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Wolf Moon. This name was given because the hungry wolves could be heard howling most readily during the cold month of January. The bounty of the fall had run out, and the wolves were on the prowl for more food.
The February Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Snow Moon. No surprise here, it is so named because February in North America is usually the toughest of the winter months.
The March Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Worm Moon. As the ground begins to thaw, the earthworms begin to reappear in the soil.
The April Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Pink Moon. It is so named after the Pink Phlox, one of the first flowering plants, which begins around the month of April, the first foothold out of the winter months.
The May Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Flower Moon. With spring in full flight, most plants are in flowering mode in the month of May. April showers bring May flowers.
The June Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Strawberry Moon. With little surprise, June is when strawberries are in season, a vital find for any foraging tribe.
The July Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Buck Moon. This is because the young male deer, or bucks, would begin growing their antlers near the beginning of summer.
The August Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Sturgeon Moon. This is because the sturgeon in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught near the month of August.
The September Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Corn Moon. Aptly named, corn harvest occurs in september, signal the end of the summer months and the move towards autumn.
The October Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Hunter's Moon. As many animals have fattened over the summer months, they were ready to be harvested and stored for the rough winter months ahead.
The November Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Beaver Moon. As the weather is getting much colder, with winter imminent, this was the last change to trap beavers before the lakes froze, which enabled the trappers a bounty of fur to keep the tribes warm for winter.
The December Full Moon in Native American Lore is referred to as a Full Cold Moon. December in North America is when the seriously cold nights begin, and thus the Cold Moon sits above us in the sky.
BONUS: If there is a full moon twice in a month, this is referred to as a Blue Moon. The last one was in 2012. This July we are due for a Blue Moon.
