Full Moon names for September: harvest moon, barley moon, corn moon

The moon closest to the autumnal equinox or Mabon is often called the Harvest Moon due to its obvious connection with this harvest celebration. Mabon is the celebration of the harvesting of the grain and the point on the wheel of the year when day and night are in perfect balance.

The September equinox moon is particularly special due to it’s timing co-inciding with this point of balance. Usually the moon rises about 50 minutes later than the time of the sunset. However when a full moon occurs close to the autumnal equinox, the moon rises only about 30 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest moon. This is because the elliptic, or orbital path, makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon around the time of the autumn equinox. The narrow angle of the ecliptic results in a shorter than normal rising time between sunset and moonrise.

Because there is relatively little time of darkness between sunset and moonrise this was perfect for the farmers so a lot of harvesting of the crops was achieved around the time of the full harvest moon. The corn moon and barley moon were other popular names for this September moon that were also based around the harvest theme.

In China the moon nearest the autumn equinox is called the kindly moon or Chrysanthemum moon. In China, Taiwan and Vietnam the equinox/ Mabon is celebrated with the Moon festival also known as Mooncake festival or Zhongqui Festival.  This festival honours Chang’e the lunar Goddess and it commemorates the only day in the year that she can visit her husband Houyi who lives on the sun. Because of this it is seen as a celebration of the balance of yin and yang. The mooncake festival is a time of giving gratitude and being with family and friends. In Japan, people gather at lakes or in special moon- viewing pavilions and eat "moon-viewing noodles": thick white noodles in broth with an egg yolk floating on top.  This moon is seen as a moon of peace and family re-union similar to thanksgiving traditions, hence the term ‘Kindly moon’

The September equinox full moon is all about balance. Day and night are of equal length and we are at the beginning of autumn, balancing on the edge before we tip into that time when the nights become longer than the days. Try and take some time during the Mabon full moon to think about anything in your life that is out of balance. How can you change that? Maybe there is something that you need to let go of during the waning moon weeks that follow?

Below is a list of full moon names from around the world.

Mabon harvest moon blessings to you, Alison

Soaproot (Pomo).

Corn Moon (Pueblo).

Harvest moon (Hopi).

Singing Moon (Celtic).

Leaf fall Moon (Kiowa).

Ripe Moon (San Juan).

Maize Moon (Natchez).

Acorns Moon (Wishram).

Rice Moon (Anishnaabe).

Hay Cutting Moon (Yuchi).

Mulberry Moon (Choctaw).

Deer Paw Moon (Omaha).

Snow Goose Moon (Cree).

Freshness Moon (Mohawk).

Harvest Moon (Pagan).

Little Chestnut Moon (Creek).

Corn Maker Moon (Abernaki).

Drying Grass Moon (Arapaho).

Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine).

Drying Grass Moon (Cheyenne).

Autumn Moon (Passamaquoddy).

Barley Moon (Medieval English).

Moon when the calves grow hair (Dakota).