The cycles of the moon and stars have been an essential part of the Celtic people’s lives for centuries. They used the celestial bodies to guide their daily activities, from planting crops to marking religious ceremonies. Have you wondered what were the Celtic Full Moon Names? Find out below!
Celtic Full Moon Names
The ancient Celts had a rich tradition of associating the cycles of the moon with specific names and meanings. These names and meanings varied across different Celtic regions and tribes.
In January, the full moon is known as the Quiet Moon, Wolf Moon, or Cold Moon, depending on the Celtic tribe. It’s a time of rest and reflection, preparing for the upcoming harvest season. The February full moon name is called the Moon of Ice, Hunger Moon, Snow Moon, or Quickening Moon. This is the season of Imbolc, a time to set intentions for the coming year and focus on personal growth.
March’s full moon name is the Seed Moon, Wind Moon, Storm Moon, or Worm Moon. It’s the season of Ostara, celebrating the start of spring and new beginnings. The April full moon is the Growing Moon or Pink Moon, representing the growth of love and the harvest season. One of our favorite Celtic full moon names is Flower Moon, which is May’s full moon. It is a time to tend to your own life and ensure that the seeds you’ve planted continue to grow.
June’s full moon is the Mead Moon or Horse Moon, a time of celebration and abundance. The newlywed couple was believed to drink mead for one full moon cycle to promote health, prosperity, and fertility. July’s full moon is the Claiming Moon or Horse Moon, a time to reflect on life and bring more positivity into it.
The August full moon is the Grain Moon or Dispute Moon, a time of feasts and festivals and resolving disputes between neighbors. September’s full moon is the Singing Moon, Harvest Moon, or Wine Moon. It’s a time to celebrate Mabon and the balance of light and dark and give thanks for all blessings in life.
Another one of our favorite Celtic full moon names is Harvest moon. It is one of the names of the October full moon. Other Celtic full moon names for October are the Harvest Moon, Seed Fall Moon, and Hunter’s Moon. It’s a time to honor loved ones who have passed on and do physical and spiritual house cleaning. November’s Celtic full moon names are the Dark Moon or Oak Moon, a time to cultivate healthy habits and let go of negativity. Finally, December’s Celtic full moon names are the Cold Moon, Singing Moon, and Wolf Moon. It’s a time to celebrate the Winter Solstice, spend time with family, and reflect on the beginning of winter.
The Celtic people not only observed the cycles of the moon but also used them for navigation and timekeeping. They were skilled astronomers and mapped the stars to create constellations and understand the movement of the planets. The stars were particularly important to the Celts during their travels as they were used to navigate during the night. The Celts also wrote about the moon and stars in their mythology and folklore, as many Celtic stories and legends featured characters who had a close connection with the celestial bodies.
As you can see from the Celtic full moon names above, they often named them after events, such as harvest season. This is typical of many ancient societies as they often had big celebrations during these periods.
The festival Halloween being another example of a festival occurring around the pivotal harvest season.
