|
A NATIVE AMERICAN LEGACY
Since the dawn of time man has been interested in the celestial bodies that shine from the night sky, especially the full moon. It was the Native American Indians that named each of the full moons. The names of these moons had little variation amongst the tribes from the northern and eastern areas of the United States. Why did they name them? It was a way to keep track of the seasons. How did they name them? In a very descriptive manner so that one could visualize the time of year. To this day, the names remain.
- Full Wolf Moon (January) cold and deep snows, outside of the Indian Villages one could hear the wolf packs cries of hunger.
- Full Snow or Full Hunger Moon (February) hunting was difficult in the deepest of winter during the heavy snowfall.
- Full Worm, Full Crow or Full Crust Moon (March) signifying the arrival of spring, the earth began to thaw and
earthworms appeared, crows heralded the end of winter and the remaining snow was just a thin crust.
- Full Pink or Full Sprouting Grass Moon (April) the appearances of moss and grasses pushing through the snow.
- Full Flower or Full Corn Planting Moon (May) soft earth ready to support life.
- Full Strawberry Moon (June) strawberry harvest.
- Full Buck or Full Thunder Moon (July) bucks were in velvet and this month ushered in violent thunderstorms.
- Full Sturgeon or Full Red Moon (August) a time for harvesting sturgeon from the lakes. The hot sultry nights
give the name to the moonrise through a reddish haze.
- Full Fruit, Barley or Harvest Moon (September) the fruit and barley moons were the moons that occurred later
in the month of September. The Harvest Moon was the full moon that was nearer to the autumnal equinox.
- Full Hunters Moon (October) the fattened deer gave rise to the hunt for winter stores.
- Full Beaver or Frosty Moon (November) trapping of beaver for the warmth of their furs.
- Full Cold or Full Long Nights Moon (December) the season of winter with its short days and long nights.
- SharLeigh
|
