Even from a scientific standpoint, no one would be foolish enough to say the moon does not affect us.  It is generally accepted that the gravitational pull of the Moon affects the waters of the Earth, with the highest tides occurring at the new and full Moon; the tides are at their least dramatic at the quarter Moon. 

Despite the fact that man has landed on the moon’s surface, the moon continues to hold us fascinated.  Its mysteries and magic are deeply imbedded in myth, folklore and the rituals and beliefs of Pagans.

The moon and its phases play an important part in Pagan rituals. In fact the moon has a different name in each month of the year.  What follows are names used by pagan people, including American Indians, to help them keep track of the seasons.

Please keep in mind, there are many traditions that use other names for the moon and some use the same names but for different months.

January – Storm Moon – Wolf Moon
The storms rage and the wolves howls hungrily in the cold of January.

February – Storm Moon – Full Snow Moon
The heaviest snows usually fall during February and as a result, in more primitive times, hunting was extremely difficult.

March – Seed Moon – Crow  Moon
This month heralded the sowing season and the start of the new growing year.  The end of winter is heralded by cry of the crows filling the air.

April – Hare Moon – Egg Moon
In Roman times, the hare was associated with fertility and spring time.  The egg is the symbol of re-birth, as still seen in Easter traditions, plenty returns to the earth.

May – Dyad Moon – Milk or Flower Moon
The constellation of Caster and Pollux are the pair referred to by this Latin word.  It is the time of planting, flowers in bloom and abundance.

June – Mead Moon – Strawberry Moon
The meadows or meads were mown for hay during June and part of July.  Strawberries are a welcome treat available during June.

July – Wort Moon – Thunder Moon
During this month wort (wyrt) plants gathered and dried to be used for medicines and food.   Thunderstorms roared during this time of year.

August – Barley Moon – Red Moon
As a symbol of the harvest, the virgin goddess of rebirth, Persephone carries a sheaf of barley.  As corn and grain grow, the moon often wears a reddish hue during August.

September – Blood Moon – Harvest Moon
The slaughter of domestic animals for winter provision marks this moon.  This is when the crops are harvested and this moon is always closest to the Equinox.

October – Snow Moon – Hunter’s Moon
The fist snows fly when the sun is at its lowest.  The cleared fields made it easier to catch the animals that had been fattened for winter and feasts were laid on.

November – Oak Moon – Frost Moon
The Rowan, most noble and sacred tree, withstands the storms of winter.  Before everything is frozen, animals were trapped and caught in the anticipation of winter.

December – Wolf Moon – Long Night Moon
The “night of the year” is represented by the nocturnal and feared wolf.  During the long winter nights the moon is resting, opposite the sun, low in the sky.

For information about the phases of the moon and rituals, see the article entitled At Each Of The Phases Of The Moon.