A look at the meaning behind the full moons in 2020

May 6, 2020, 2:00 PM

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The beauty of another full moon is just around the corner!

The next full moon that we will experience will occur on Thursday, May 7th at 9:45 a.m MST.

This full moon is known by many as the full flower moon, a reflection on the many flowers which are in full bloom around the nation.

There is a very interesting story behind the names of the full moons in our calendar.

Many of the Native American cultures in the northern and eastern United States kept track of the growing seasons by giving specific names to the full moon of each month.

The lunar synodic month is about 29.5 days in length, on average, so the actual dates of a full moon wander during each calendar month.

Here is a listing of the dates of the full moon in 2020, along with the names of those moons and why they are called that.

January

The full wolf moon rose Jan. 10th.

It earned that name because, in the cold of winter, wolf packs seeking food would howl outside Native American villages.

February

The full snow moon rose on February 9th.

The heaviest of snows fell in February and hunting was difficult. Many Native American tribes called this the Full Hunger Moon.

March

The full worm moon rose in the night sky on March 9th.

The moon was named after the insect because the ground had thawed enough for worms to appear in the soil, inviting a return to the growing season for many tribes.

April

The full pink moon made its 2020 appearance on April 7th.

Many flowers would bloom in April, along with the grass pink orchid.

May

The full flower moon will rise on May 7th.

It’s called the flower moon because flowers dot the landscape in most regions of the United States.

June

The full strawberry moon is expected to rise on June 5th.

Strawberry season is strong in June and this full moon will be a great sight to see in the warm Arizona night sky!

July

The full thunder moon will appear in the night sky on July 5th.

Thunderstorms are frequent in many places in the United States. This moon was also known by many tribes as the full buck moon because it is a time when antlers push out of buck deer.

August

Look for the full sturgeon moon on August 3rd.

Many tribes caught this large lake fish in abundance during August.

September

The full corn moon will rise on September 2nd.

Corn was in full bloom for many Native American tribes.

October

The full harvest moon, which will rise Oct. 1st, and the second full moon of October on Halloween night, October 31^st, known as the full hunter’s moon, or “Blue Moon” by some!

The harvest moon rises closer to sunset and provided extra illumination to harvest crops.

November

The full beaver moon, which will appear on November 30th, is named so because it was when many tribes set beaver traps to ensure a good supply of furs for the winter months.