​From Wolf Moon to Worm Moon: Unique full moons of 2024​ (2024)

​Who doesn’t like to look at the moon? The darkness of night is defeated by the full moon’s perseverance to shine. Full moon days are a site for sore eyes. Moon was humankind's first timepiece, it is claimed by scientists that the earliest humans used to track seasons and days with changing shapes of the Moon. Native Americans named these moons that had specific meaning to them. Full moons occur every 29.5 days, and they symbolize a time of surrender and reflections. It is a period when the sun and the moon are completely opposite to each other giving a sense of balance in the universe. Here is a guide to when it will occur and what is the significance of the name assigned to it.

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The first full moon of 2024, occurred on January 25th, traditionally called Wolf Moon, symbolizes introspection and letting go of the past. The frosty snow of January forces people to further shelter themselves in their home. This moon came to be known so as earlier tribals used to believe that there is some connection between the majestic glow of the moon and the howling of the wolves at night. While the people are huddled together in their homes cozily, people connect and rely on each other.

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On 24th February, the Snow Moon brightened the sky with all its force. Although this full moon was the smallest of 2024, with it appearing 10% smaller due to the moon’s flattened orbit. This period is characterized by snowfall, hence the name. No matter if it snows in your region, February is the time of giving away old habits and things before the dried winter trees give way to the colorful and enlivening spring. Interestingly, native American tribes in the northwestern United states referred to Snow moon as Storm Moon or Hunger Moon, as these tribes faced problems in hunting during this time due to heavy storms.

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The full moon for this month appeared on March 25. The ground becomes soft and worms appear on the ground- the robins feed on them marking the end of winter and incoming of the summers. Another interpretation is due to emergence of beetle larvae after the long winter ends and in other tribes the moon is called Crow Moon as the crows start cawing at the arrival of summers. This year Worm Moon brings with it the first of the four eclipses of this year.

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The Pink moon painted the sky on April 23 this year. Pink Phlox wildflowers native to North America bloomed in the month of April, inspiring the name for April month’s full moon. Although the name suggests that the moon might appear pink, it actually has a golden hue to it near the horizon. The Pink Moon symbolizes love, compassion and healing.

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​The world witnessed the flower moon on May 23. The native tribes referred to this moon as Flower moon as the area witnessed the abundance of flowers during this season. Some even call it Seed Moon as seeds are planted during this time around. Many cultures and religions believe that this is the time to harness and honor the full power of the moon.

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​The sixth full moon of the year appeared on the 22nd of March. This moon is the lowest hanging as the sun which is its exact opposite is at its highest. This year it coincided with the summer solstice, an important event in many cultures. The native Americans called it so as this was the short season when strawberries were harvested.

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​Buck moon is the name assigned to the full moon of July. It will happen on July 21. The male deer antlers grow during this time. They are the fastest-growing bones in the world, growing ¼ inch per day. The name originated from native tribes who used the moon as a timepiece to harvest crops and hunt accordingly. Other names for this moon are Thunder Moon and Hay Moon as some regions around the world experience thunderstorms and it also coincides with the time when farmers will typically store hay for the winter season.

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​The Sturgeon moon will manifest on August 19. This will be the first supermoon of the year, which means that it will appear bigger and brighter than any other full moon seen this year so far. Sturgeons are a type of fish, that was a staple for Native Americans. They could be caught in abundance during this season, hence the origin of its name.

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​This year on September 17, the Harvest moon will light up the sky. Closely followed by the Autumnal equinox that will occur on September 22. Interestingly the full moon name is not associated with a specific month rather it depends on the Autumnal equinox which can happen either in September or October, depending on the lunar cycle. This is the time of reaping the crops that were sowed during Spring. The grains are stored while the vegetables and fruits are preserved.

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The full moon of October is called Hunter’s Moon, as this is the time when hunters hunt down deer to preserve food for the upcoming winter. This year the full moon moon will appear on October 17. This is the month of Halloween and the last of autumn, the moon in all its glory adds to the allure of this season. It symbolizes internal work and self reflection.

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​A time for preparation and transition, this full moon will occur on November 15. The winters finally arrived with the first snowfall in US and Canada. The leaves of the trees are covered with snow and the beavers construct their dams before the ground freezes. They collect their food and supplies and store them in those dams. Another interpretation is during the fur trade in North America, beavers’ were in high demand for their fur so they were trapped during this time.

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One fascinating fact about the Moon is that it always shows the same face to Earth, a phenomenon known as “tidal locking.” This occurs because the Moon’s rotation period matches its orbit around Earth, taking about 27.3 days for both. As a result, we only ever see one hemisphere of the Moon from our vantage point on Earth. The far side, often mistakenly called the “dark side,” is not actually dark but simply out of view. This synchronous rotation has intrigued astronomers and sparked countless myths and stories throughout history.

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