Full Moon names for July and traditions around the world

July's moon is a particularly celebrated one around the world. It's a very auspicious one this year being a supermoon as well!

One of the names for the full moon we will see in July is the thunder moon due to the heavy rain and stormy weather. It is particularly hot and humid in England at the moment, a good thunderstorm would be great!

This full moon is also known as the Buck moon as Male deer, which shed their antlers every year, begin to regrow them in July, hence the Native American name for July's full moon.

Other names are  for the July full moon are the hay moon after the July hay harvest, Red Salmon Time Moon and Blessing moon because this is the time when Mother Earth begins to bless us with her richness. North American Indian names for the July full moon tend to be based around the crops that are being harvested such as the Ripe Corn Moon. Lastly there is Mead Moon as the summer was often celebrated with dancing, drinking, and song. The mead is now made for the coming harvest celebration from local honey.

In the Chinese calender this moon is the Hungry Ghost Moon. This is the time when the veil between our worlds is thin and spirits pour into our world. In order to placate the spirits it is tradition to burn fake money and offer sweets and paper lanterns. It is said that alhough many spirits simply seek out the comforts of their former homes and the company of their loved ones, angry spirits also roam the streets, seeking revenge on those who have wronged them and thus these need to be placated.

In India and many parts of Asia the full moon in July is particularly significant and is celebrated with a big festival known as Guru Purnima day. Purnima means “full moon day.” Guru purnima is considered the beginning of the spiritual year. On this day disciples offer Puja or pay respect to their Gurus or spiritual guides. Guru Purnima is also celebrated by Buddhists in the honor of Guatama Buddha to commemorate the day when Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. This year Guru Purnima will be celebrated at the full moon on 22^nd July 2013

In Japan, the July full moon sees the celebration of O-Bon, the 3-day Festival of Lanterns. This Buddhist and Shinto celebration honors the dead, and homes, altars, shrines and tombs are cleaned and decorated.

Below is a summary of some more names for the full moon in July I have managed to research. Do let me know if you have come across any others!

Colonial American         Summer Moon

Chinese                        Hungry Ghost Moon

Cherokee                      Ripe Corn Moon

Choktaw                       Crane Moon

Dakotah Sioux               Moon of the Middle Summer

Celtic                           Moon of the Claiming

English Medieval           Mead Moon

Pagan                           Rose Moon

New Guinea                  Black  Trevally Moon

Below are the full moon times for July 2013

Monday * 22nd July 2013 * 08:15:30 pm
Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Moon sign: Aquarius 00° 05'

In other time zones:
WELLINGTON = Tue * 23nd July 2013 * 06:15:30 am (NZST)
SYDNEY = Tue * 23nd July 2013 * 04:15:30 am (AEST)
TOKYO = Tue * 23nd July 2013 * 03:15:30 am (JST)
BEIJING = Tue * 23nd July 2013 * 02:15:30 am (CST)
BANGKOK = Tue * 23nd July 2013 * 01:15:30 am (ICT)
DELHI = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 11:45:30 pm (IST)
MOSCOW = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 10:15:30 pm (MSK)
RIYADH = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 09:15:30 pm (AST)
BERLIN = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 08:15:30 pm (CEST)
LONDON = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 07:15:30 pm (BST)
RIO = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 03:15:30 pm (BRT)
NEW YORK = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 02:15:30 pm (EDT)
MEXICO CITY = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 01:15:30 pm (CDT)
LOS ANGELES = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 11:15:30 am (PDT)
HONOLULU = Mon * 22nd July 2013 * 08:15:30 am (HAST)

 Source:http://www.fullmoon.info/en/fullmoon-calendar.html

Remember this full moon in July is going to be a Supermoon! What do you think the most appropriate name should be for this July Supermoon? Perhaps you would like to come up with your own original name. I would love to hear your ideas.

Happy energy filled full moon blessings to you, Alison xxx