Names of Full Moons

1. Full Moons

2. January
The Algonquin people called it Wolf Moon after
the howling wolves outside their villages.
Also known as Cold Moon, and Ice Moon

4. February
Snow Moon got its name from heavy snowfall.
Others called it Hunger Moon as food sources
become scarce, or Bear Moon after the cubs
being born in wintry dens

6. March
The Ojibwe called it Sugar Moon after the maple
harvest.
Maple syrup was considered medicinal after
winter’s dearth, and helped balance blood sugar
levels.
Also called Crust Moon because of the crust that
forms on snow as it melts and refreezes

8. April
Pink Moon got its name from one of the first
sentinels of wild spring: pink ground phlox
(flowers).
The Ojibwe called it Sucker Moon after one of the
easiest fish to net at this time (the sucker)

10. May
May’s aptly named Flower Moon was also called
Frog Moon by the Cree people.
Rising temperatures opened the waterways and
brought croaking ponds

12. June
The Ojibwe called it Strawberry Moon after the
first berry to ripen.
Heart-shaped with blood-coloured juice,
strawberries are good for heart health

14. July
The Algonquin people called it Buck Moon after
the new antlers appearing on deer bucks.
Also called Thunder Moon and Raspberry Moon

16. August
Sturgeon Moon got its name from the giants that
once frequented fresh-water fishing grounds.
Also called Green Corn Moon, and Flying Up
Moon as young birds got ready to fly

18. September
The Algonquin people called it Corn Moon to
signal the harvest.
The Cree called it Rutting Moon after the bull
moose that scraped the velvet from their antlers to
start mating season

20. October
The Algonquin people called in Hunter Moon after
fattened game.
The Anglo-Saxons called it Sanguine (blood)
Moon for the same reason.
Also called Migrating Moon and Travel Moon

22. November
Beaver Moon was a reminder to set traps for
beaver pelts before the swamps froze.
The Cree called it Freeze Up Moon as waterways
began to freeze

24. December
The Cree called it Hoar Moon after the hoar frost
that clings to leaves.
Also called Cold Moon, and Long Night Moon