Wolf Moon

Last month I heard the term "Wolf Moon" for the first time. No doubt it's needlessly dramatic, but I had to look it up and now I'm wondering what other Moon names are out there. After checking the Farmer's Almanac...here they be:

• Blue Moon - the second of two full Moons in the same month. Happens every 2 1/2 years.
• Crescent Moon - when the bright part is less than a semi-circle and gives the Moon the appearance of "horns".
• Gibbous Moon - opposite of Crescent Moon, when the bright part is greater than a semi-circle but less than a circle.

• Wolf Moon - January. Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.
• Snow Moon - February. Heaviest snow usually falls during this month. AKA Hunger Moon.
• Worm Moon - March. Earthworms appear, heralding the return of the robins. AKA Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sap Moon, Lenten Moon.
• Pink Moon - April. From the herb moss pink, one of the earliest flowers. AKA Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon.
• Flower Moon - May. AKA Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon.
• Strawberry Moon - June. After the short season for harvesting strawberries. AKA Rose Moon.

• Buck Moon - July. When the new antlers of buck deer appear. AKA: Thunder Moon, Hay Moon.
• Sturgeon Moon - August. Sturgeon were most readily caught then. AKA Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon.
• Corn Moon - September. When corn was supposed to be harvested.
• Harvest Moon - October. Full Moon closest to the autumn equinox.
• Beaver Moon - November. Time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze. AKA Frosty Moon.
• Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon - December. During this month the winter cold fastens its grip.

Now you know...use this information wisely. And if you want to dress up like Maddy Hayes and croon Blue Moon, that's cool with me.