Moons of the Year
January through June
The Moon of January is also called Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon, Disting Moon, and Moon of Little Winter.
The Full Moon of January honored Ch'ang-O, Chinese Goddess of the bedchamber and protector of Children.
The Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the New Moon when the Sun is in Aquarius. This can be as early as January 21, and no later than February 19.
The Incan festival of Camay Quilla was held at the New Moon.
Plough Monday and St. Distaff's Day were held the Monday and Tuesday following Twelfth Night (January 6), which were traditional back to work days following Yule.
The Chinese God of Wealth, Tsai Shen, rules over money and wealth. A number of Moon symbols are connected with him, such as the bat, frog, and the number three.
Old Sayings & Lore
Whatever the weather is like the first twelve days of January indicates what the weather will be like for the next twelve months, with each day equal to one successive month.
The Moon of February is also called Storm Moon, Horning Moon, Hunger Moon, Wild Moon, Red and Cleansing Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath (Sun Month), and Big Winter Moon.
"Horning" Moon comes from the ancient Frankish and the modern Asatru calendars, from Horn, or the turn of the year. American backwoods traditions called the Full Moon in February Snow Moon. Originally it seems, the months alternated between thirty and thirty-two days. According to legend, February had a day looted by the month of August, when the pattern was altered and the months were shortened.
Old Sayings & Lore
A snowy February brings a good Spring, but a mild month means stormy weather:
"When February gives much snow,
A fine Summer does foreshow."
A mild, sunny February is a bad omen, portending a stormy Summer:
"Of all the months in the year,
Curse a fair Februeer."
Women born in February should make it a point to wear their birthstone, the Amethyst:
If the February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If she the Amethyst will wear.
The Moon of March is also called Seed Moon, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Worm Moon, Hrethmonath (Hertha's Month), Lentzinmanoth (Renewal Month), Lenting Moon, Sap Moon, Crow Moon, and Moon of the Snowblind.
The Anglo-Saxons named this month Hrethmonath, honoring the Earth Mother Goddess Hertha. Modern Asatru call March Lenting. The American backwoods traditions call this month Worm or Sap Moon.
Old Sayings & Lore
If March weather comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.
A verse:
"New Moon, true Moon,
Star in the stream,
Pray tell my fortune
In my dream.
Pale Moon doth rain,
Red Moon doth blow,
White Moon doth neither rain nor snow."
Data not found for this month, if you have any information regarding the April Moon please let me know
The Moon of May is also called Merry or Dyad Moon, Flower Moon, Frogs Return Moon, Thrimilcmonath (Thrice-Milk Month), Sproutkale, Winnemanoth (Joy Month), Planting Moon, and Moon When the Ponies Shed.
The Mugwort Festival is celebrated the fifth day of the New Moon in China. In China, the Full Moon is also known as the Pestilent Moon; Chung K'uei the great spiritual chaser of demons is honored. The time of the sacred marriage of the God and Goddess is the Dyad Moon, when the two become one, when all things meet their opposites in perfect balance and in perfect harmony.
Anglo-Saxons named their month Thrimilcmonath, or Thrice Milk Month, because cows give milk three times a day during May.
The American backwoods tradition call this full Moon Flower Moon.
The commemoration of Buddha's enlightenment occurs on the day of the Full Moon this month.
Old Sayings & Lore
To dream of a future husband, go out into the light of the Full Moon of May and say:
"Moon, Moon, tell unto me
When my true love I shall see.
What fine clothes am I to wear?
How many children shall I bear?
For if my love comes not to me
Dark and dismal my life will be."
The Moon of June is also called Moon of Horses, Lovers' Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Honey Moon, Aerra Litha (Before Lithia), Brachmanoth (Break Month), Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, and Moon of Making Fat.
In Egypt, the Festival of Edfu was held in honor of Hathor on the Full Moon; on the New Moon her image began its journey by boat to Edfu. The Hot or Strawberry Moon is the backwoods Full Moon.
Old Sayings & Lore
If it rains on June 27, then it will rain for the next seven weeks.
A wet June makes a dry September.
A dripping June brings all things in tune.
If swallows fly near the ground in June, rain is coming.
Hot and dry weather will come tomorrow if Bats are seen flying on a June evening.
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