Our moon is full this year on December 17th 2013 . Full moon
times are given below.
The Native American tribes are where many of our names for moon
months originate. The Native Americans reckoned time by the different months of
the year and thus the New and Full Moons were of upmost importance to them.
Their new year began in March and was divided into thirteen moons. At each new
moon a big feast was held which was named often for the fruits in season or the
game that was hunted for their food at this time. The beginning of the year in March was noted with a huge
feast called the Moon Festival, or Deer Festival. Each moon month brought with
it it’s own particular characteristics and it’s own opportunities for spiritual
growth.
You can use each particular moon month in the same way. Think
about what the December moon means to you and what your hopes and dreams are
for this month. For me the December Moon would be called ‘Family Moon’ As a
Pagan family we celebrate both Yule and also Christmas as a time to be with
family. I love the fact that for those times you can just have quality time
with your family with no outside distractions.
A lot of the moon names in December centre around the weather as
you would expect! December is the month where it did really turn cold in many
areas around our earth and so the names such as Snow Moon, Cold Moon and Bitter
Moon arose. In Cherokee tradition, Vsgiyi, the
spirit being or “Snow Man”, brings cold and snow to our earth. The earth rests
until the rebirth of the seasons in the Windy Moon in March. Although
here in England at the moment it is still incredibly mild, I have hardly had my
heating on which is great for my fuel bills!
The December moon is also commonly known as the long nights moon
as this is the closest moon to our Winter Solstice or Yule when we will have the
longest night and the shortest day. The moon will be above the horizon for the
longest amount of time she has a high
trajectory across the sky because she is opposite a low Sun. This month of
December therefore gives us lots of opportunities for observing her beauty!
The old English name of Oak moon or ‘Moon Before the Yule Oak‘ occurred because this was the time of the
Oak King’s re-birth. He defeats the Holly King at Yule and rules over the next
6 months, seeing the light and warmth eventually returning to the earth. This
name of Oak Moon is often adopted
in Pagan cultures to define the December Moon
Here are some common names for the moon around the world:
American Christmas
Moon
Chinese Bitter
Moon
Cherokee Snow
Moon
Choktaw Moon of the Bears
Algonquian Cold
Moon
Dakatah Sioux Twelth
Moon
Celtic Cold
Moon
English Oak
Moon
Pagan Long
Night Moon
Indian Wolf
Moon, Big Moon
Southern Hemisphere moon names for December are often named for
the spring flowers and vegetables that are starting to appear in that part of
the world. Thus common names for the Southern hemisphere December moon are: Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon
I found an alternative for the Choktaw December Moon being Peach Moon. I can't find any information as to why it would be called Peach Moon in the middle of winter! Does anybody have any ideas?!
Across many traditions December has always been an important
month. We see of course the Solstice or Yule on the 21st originating
from ancient Celtic origins. Then we have Christmas on the 25th, the
day given to the birth of Christ in Christian tradition. It was the tenth month on the old Roman calendar and the time of Saturnalia
involving much feasting. The old Norman word is Heilagmanoth, or Holy Month is
so called because of its large number of sacred festivals. This moon was called
Heilagmonth Moon for this reason. In Jewish tradition December is the time for
the festival of lights. On the old Tibetan calendar, December 1 was the
beginning of a new year, so this was the first Full Moon of their year. In
Mexico, the ancient Mayan goddess Ixchel is still honored in southern Mexico
today with processions and rituals that bless boats and fields. In Japan, it
was the time when the hiding Sun goddess Amaterasu came out of her cave.
As well as looking at the different
moon names for the month of December and finding the one which resonates most
with you, it is also useful to look at the characteristics of the moon in the
month in which you were born. If you were born during the month of the December
Moon you often have a colder exterior but with a glowing warm heart beneath. Given
the opportunity this warm inner strength will radiate outwards and affect all
those that come into contact with you. You have faced adversity and may
continue to do so but your warm inner strength gives you the power to work
through whatever life throws at you.
In honour of the importance of this
December Moon to so many cultures around the world I have found a chant you
might like to use on the night of the full moon.
Enjoy the wonderful glory of the full
moon in December as she graces our skies from sunset to sunrise. Our moon will
never be in the sky as long as she is in December so make the most of her
healing light! Decide which qualities of the December Moon you would like to
include in any rituals you carry out this month. I will be performing a ritual to strengthen family
bonds and security.
Moon Oh Come Into Us Let You Power Dance
Waxing, Waning, Shifting Time
And Tide Entrance Luna By Your Turning Spin The Thread We Weave Magick We Are
Making As We Circle Dance
~Ivo Dominguez Jr.
The next full moon will be Tuesday
* 17th December 2013 * 10:28:06 am
Central European Time (CET)
Moon sign: Gemini 25° 36'
Dates for
the full moon In other time zones:
WELLINGTON = Tuesday * 17th Dec 2013
* 10:28:06 pm (NZDT)
SYDNEY = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 08:28:06 pm (AEDT)
TOKYO = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 06:28:06 pm (JST)
BEIJING = Tuesday * 17th December
2013 * 05:28:06 pm (CST)
BANGKOK = Tuesday * 17th December
2013 * 04:28:06 pm (ICT)
DELHI = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 02:58:06 pm (IST)
MOSCOW = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 01:28:06 pm (MSK)
RIYADH = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 12:28:06 pm (AST)
BERLIN = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 10:28:06 am (CET)
LONDON = Tuesday * 17th December 2013
* 09:28:06 am (GMT)
RIO = Tuesday * 17th December 2013 *
07:28:06 am (BRST)
NEW YORK = Tuesday * 17th Dec 2013 *
04:28:06 am (EST)
MEXICO CITY = Tuesday * 17th Dec 2013
* 03:28:06 am (CST)
LOS ANGELES = Tuesday * 17th Dec 2013
* 01:28:06 am (PST)
HONOLULU = Monday * 16th Dec 2013 *
11:28:06 pm (HAST)
Full Family Moon blessings to you,
Alison xxx
