Full Moon Names for the Southern Hemisphere
Full moons were often given names according to the main seasonal indicators for the month (Episode 14 - The Moon and Wheel of the Months). Many old Farmer’s Almanacs from the Northern Hemisphere included these full moon names. Those from the Americas used names from Anglo-Saxon seasonal calendars and some were adapted from the regional terminology of American First Nations tribes.
These traditional full moon names do not match our Southern Hemisphere seasons so here is a list of full moon names that are more appropriate for our region’s agricultural seasons:
Winter or Frost Moon - June (incorporates the first day of winter on the 1st of June and the winter solstice on the 21st/22nd of this month. Frosts are a daily event during this month unless the weather is cloudy and rainy)
Yule Moon - July (incorporates midwinter and Yule on the 15th of July - Yule is also spelled Jul in Scandinavian countries and seems rather suitable for the month of July)
Hunger Moon - August (incorporates Imbolc or Brigid’s Day. Food is scarce at this time in the natural world and in the agricultural seasonal calendar)
Spring or Egg Moon - September (incorporates the first day of Spring on September 1 and the seasonal markers of the Spring breeding season, like the proliferation of eggs, hares mating and lambs, all icons of the Spring Equinox that occurs on 22/23rd of this month. Eggs were an important symbol for this season involving many traditions and folklore related to the Spring Equinox celebration of Eostre, the pre-Christian Easter)
Beltane or Flower Moon - October (incorporates Beltane Eve on October 31 and the height of the Spring flowering season)
Planting or Garlic Moon - November (the cooler regions of Australia avoid planting frost-tender summer crops until after the threat of frosts has passed, usually by November. Southern regional folklore advises not to plant Summer crops until after Melbourne Cup Day on the first Tuesday in November. November is also the peak of garlic harvest season)
Strawberry or Hay Moon - December (incorporates the first day of summer on the 1st of December, the Summer Solstice on December 21 and Christmas. The last of the new season’s oaten hay is cut at the start of December while the last of the lucerne hay is usually cut by the end of December. Strawberries are reaching their fruiting peak as are the stone fruit, grape and tropical fruits
Grain or Lugh’s Moon - January (incorporates midsummer on January 15 and Lughnassadh Eve (first harvest, harvest of the grains) on January 31. Winter grain crop harvesting is wrapping up for the season in the southern regions of Australia)
Berry Moon - February (incorporates Lughnassad Day on February 1. Summer cropping raspberries give way to autumn fruiting varieties, wild blackberries and other berries begin to ripen at the end of February)
Harvest Moon - March (incorporates the Autumn Equinox and Harvest Home on March 21/22, when the last of the fruit and vegetable harvests are brought in)
Pumpkin or Samhain Moon - April (incorporates Samhain Eve (also known as Halloween) and celebrates the pumpkin harvests after being hardened by autumn frosts, stored, cooked or carved into Jack-O’Lanterns)
Hunters or Ancestors Moon - May (incorporates Samhain Day on May 1, which traditionally involves honouring familial ancestors (it is also called Halloween and is celebrated in November, the Northern Hemisphere’s Autumn). It is also the peak month for hunting season in most Australian states and territories, particularly waterfowl, although feral animals such as pigs, rabbits, camels, deer and horses can be hunted all year-round)
