It is the last full moon of the conventional calendar year, this bright moon which usually falls before Yule (or the winter solstice). The full moon of December rises icy cold and clear into starry winter skies, and it may well be the most beautiful moon of them all - it is certainly the most brilliant.December's moon always seems poignant to me and rather lonely, floating up there in the velvety darkness by herself. When this full moon rolls around, those of us who live in the north are huddled indoors near our hearths, heaving wood into the fireplace or stove at regular intervals and watching the dancing flames, drinking tea, trying to stay warm and out of the wind and the cold. We watch the ebb and flow of the seasons and the passing of the short days and long nights from our frosty windows, and we hold fast to thoughts of warmth and light returning, knowing well that it will be the end of January before we begin to see any real change in the length of our days and the warmth of the sun.
Moon watching in December is not for everyone, and it takes a hardy soul indeed to stand shivering in the garden under the dark spidery trees with camera and tripod looking up, but however cold the night and the wind, the exercise is always well worth it, for December's moon really is something special.
Like its older sisters, this moon has many names, and we also know it as:
Ashes Fire Moon, Beginning of Winter Moon, Big Bear Moon, Birch Moon, Center Moon's Younger Brother, Cold Moon, Bitter Moon, Deer Shed Their Horns Moon, Dumannos Moon, Eccentric Moon, Elder Moon, Frozen Over Moon, Holy Moon, Hellebore Moon, Her Winter Houses Moon, Hunting Moon, Ice Moon, Little Finger Moon, Little Spirits Moon, Long Nights Moon, Long Snows Moon, Middle of Winter Moon, Moon Before Yule, Moon of Cold, Moon of Long Nights, Moon of Much Cold, Moon of Popping Trees, Moon of Putting Your Paddle Away in the Bush, Moon of Respect, Moon When Deer Shed Their Horns, Moon When Little Bears Are Born, Moon When the Young Fellow Spreads the Brush, Moon When the Wolves Run Together, Moon When the Sun Has Traveled South to His Home to Rest Before He Starts Back on His Journey North, Night Moon, Oak Moon, Poinsettia Moon, Real Goose Moon, Snow Moon, Star Frost Moon, Turning Moon, Twelfth Moon, Under Burn Moon, White Orchid Tree Moon, Winter Moon, World Darkness Moon, Yule Moon
A Monday haiku offering may be found here.
9 comments:
This is a lovely photo of the full moon, she's not visible here at all as we have heavy cloud and rain covering her face. Where do you find all these names for the moon? I've heard hardly any of them before. I ike Moon When the Wolves Run Together because I love wolves, they are such beautiful and intelligent animals. I like Winter Moon too but my favourite is Star Frost Moon. Though tonight there are neither stars nor frost!The weather is very unseasonal.
I so much appreciate your list of moon names for the December Moon. I agree with you, too, Kerrdelune, that the December moons seems a little lonely -- or maybe just get a kindof bittersweet feeling, a longing, when I go outside and hug my arms to my chest in the cold night to watch this moon. Last night the moonlight woke me from a deep sleep and a dream --- I couldn't fall asleep immediately, so I put on my robe and went outside into the garden to watch the moon, soak up some of the light. It was beautiful and it filled me with such a longing for light in this dark time of year. No wonder people throughout history have celebrated the moon and the coming-back-to-the-light at winter solstice. it's so dark without our wondrous moon.
Your wonderful photos of the moon always seem as if I am looking directly at the moon from my own window. The photos are so clear - I can get the branches into focus or the moon but seldom both.
Your listing of the names of the moon each month are so special I list them in my own journal indicating they came from your blog -- Thanks for the treasures.
I worship the Moon, and those who can photograph it so amazingly well. I'm in awe.
I always find myself drawn to your blog on full moons. I must be feeling your deep appreciation--it's happened so many times that I can't doubt it's something more than an accident. Thank you for making such lovely reminders of the cycles we often pay little attention to.
I have been watching the moon too. Beautiful photo you have here!
Barbara sent me and I must say I agree with her sentiments. That is a magnificent moon shot. Bravo!
Such a beautiful Moon! Love your work :-))) Here is my shot of the Long Nights Moon taken today ( in the Southern Hemisphere) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomraven/3605988601/
xxTom
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