Sunday

Moon Swoon: How 2014's Full Moons Got Their Peculiar Names 

The start of 2014 brings with it a new year of skywatching, and lunar enthusiasts are gearing up for a stunning lineup of full moons. But, where does the tradition of full moon names come from?

Full moon names date back to Native Americans of a few hundred years ago, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. To keep track of the changing seasons, these tribes gave distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

There were some variations in the moon names, but in general, the same ones were used throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England, continuing west to Lake Superior.

European settlers followed their own customs and created some of their own names.

Full Wolf Moon: Amid the cold and deep snows of mid-winter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. January's full moon was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes, this was the Full Snow Moon, but most applied that name to next month's moon (Source)

Photo-Credit: Veronique Renaud

January Moon names

Man Moon (Taos).
Joyful Moon (Hopi).
Avunniviayuk (Inuit).
Quite Moon (Celtic).
Ice Moon (San Juan).
Cold Moon (Cherokee).
Ice Moon (Neo-Pagan).
Flying Ant Moon(Apache).
Big Cold Moon (Mohawk).
Cooking Moon (Choctaw).
Strong Cold Moon (Sioux).
Little Winter Moon (Creek).
Her Cold Moon (Wishram).
Cold Meal Moon (Natchez).
Moon After Yule (Cherokee).
Wolf Moon (Medieval English).
Strong Cold Moon (Cheyenne).
Quiet : Dark, Wolf : Full (Janic).
Great Spirit Moon (Anishnaabe).
Whirling Wind Moon (Passamaquoddy).
Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Winter Moon, Yule Moon (Algonquin).

VIDEO: Full Moon Time lapse over The Superstition Mountains



Happy Full Wolf Moon 2014

Responses to "Happy Full Wolf Moon 2014 (Videos)"

  1. Anonymous says:

    BEAUTIFUL!!! ♥

  2. Robbie Flaherty says:

    Who does that song? I love it!

  3. Myrna says:

    Taking Over Me by Evanescence on the very excellent album Fallen. Lovely..the song and these pictures x

  4. The wold is my guardian spiritually. Blessings to you too! Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

  5. The wolf...I mean. :)

  6. Anonymous says:

    Beautiful Pictures & love the song.<3

  7. Anonymous says:

    Im an esoteric astrologer but also understand the 13 moons. So ty for this site. I reshared it to my wall. I am the white wolf w/ blue eyes. Lakota (IceStorm)

  8. Shewolf76 says:

    very Nice Happy New Year :)

  9. Anonymous says:

    What a beautiful vidio.

  10. Anonymous says:

    This is beautiful I was feeling down and this put me back on the right track of my own being at one with my wolf brothers.

  11. John says:

    This is a Great Song and Video. You just gotta love it.

  12. UrbanAngel says:

    Happy Full Moon to you too hoooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwll :o)

  13. Anonymous says:

    All i have to say to this piece is :LEAVE US ALONE,WE HAVE DONE NOTHING TO YOU.I have lived among the wolves,coyotes,and fox all my life.I would wonder off as a child,with my trusted dog by my side,and was never once attacked.They would stare from afar and wonder, then in late spring we could watch as the little pups were brought out to play.The only harm here is the ignorance of man,as they read our dear little ones their bedtime stories.

  14. Hmagee says:

    Hey Anonymous, chill out!

  15. Hmagee says:

    Hey Anonymous, chill out!

  16. Anonymous says:

    Just Beautiful White Wolf!! Happy Full Wolf Moon to you as well. Let the Howls be heard!!! Teresa

  17. Anonymous says:

    AWESOME VIDEO AND PICTURES. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ALL OF NATURE AND ALWAYS WEAR WOLF T-SHIRTS ETC. LOVE THE MUSIC FROM EVANESCENCE ALSO. SOOO GOOD! we need to protect all of nature.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Wow!!! Beautiful scenery with the wolves in the snow!! Beautiful video!! :)

  19. Anonymous says:

    Hence my name is Runningwolf..Apache

  20. Rainbow Wolf says.....Aaooooooooooowoooooooooooo Bright Blessings~

  21. Anonymous says:

    January 16th, 2014?? It is only the 14th here!

  22. Anonymous says:

    If you're into astrology, January's full moon is in Cancer this year :)

  23. Unknown says:

    Is mooi maar mis toch het gehuil van de wolf daar ging het toch om...

  24. Anonymous says:

    Every time is like the first time for me ,,,I look at the full moon with awhhh and praise the Lord for his amazing works Magnificent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. Anonymous says:

    How wonderful

  26. Anonymous says:

    awesomeness for sure:)

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