by Last Updated on April 9, 2024 by Avia
Native American Full Moon Names and Native Wisdom for Moon Gazers: The Native American full moon names listed in this article were established by eastern and northern tribes such as the Algonquin and the Iroquois. Consider the month in which you were born, and liken it to the Native American full moon names available here. Perhaps you can resonate with some of the symbolic meanings our Native lineage identified with. We can use these symbolic monthly markers as a method of self-exploration, growth, and grounding.
Table of Contents
About Full Moon Names
Take the time to step into the sacredness each month provides in the glory of her own fullest moon. Better yet, take a few moments to honor the full moon as she reveals herself each month. In doing this, we gain expanded awareness – widening our psychic view to a broader setting.
These remarkable people assigned attributes to each of the full moons according to the seasonal characteristics. Symbolic Native American full moon names offer a personality to each month, and give a unique flavor to each season of the year. Compare these seasonal/monthly flavors to what’s going on in your own life. Doing so will keep you in-step with nature, and in harmony with nature’s cycles.
“When a man moves away from nature his heart becomes hard.”
~Lakota saying
List of Native American Full Moon Names and Meanings
January Full Moon Name
Wolf Moon: The full moon in January. Said to be called the Wolf Moon because the wolves are out in the bright light this time of year – anxious and hot on the trail for a feast to slake their hunger in the lean winter month. Also see my blog post on January Wolf moon symbolism.
February Full Moon Names
Snow Moon: The full moon of February. At this time the northeastern regions can give up their heaviest of snowfalls. This full moon is also called the hunger or hungry moon because the grips of winter can make it another lean month for the belly of both man and beast. See also February Meaning and Symbolism
March Full Moon Names
Crow Moon or Magpie Moon: The Native American full moon names for March are largely based on these being considered the last full moons of winter; the crow caws its farewell to the season. Also known as the Worm Moon because they start to surface at this time, also signaling retreat of winter and the marching in of springtime. The full crow moon is full of meaning about transition and transformation. Also see my page on March Meaning and Symbolism
April Full Moon Names
Seed Moon or Egg Moon: The full moon of April. Also known as the pink moon. Both names indicate the sprouting of a seed and the explosion of bright beauty found in the phlox (pink) and other flowers rising for the spring debut. Get more about the full April pink moon (seed moon) here.
May Full Moon Name
Flower Moon: Full moon name of May. Quite simply, May brings bright brushes to paint the earth canvas with infinite flowers. In the full moonlight of this month, the flowers are said to grow at night, and even dance in honor of the moon. Get more about the full flower moon meaning of May here.
June Full Moon Name
Strawberry Moon: The Native American full moon names for June is also easy to understand. June is the picking time for strawberries when they are at their ripest and fullest. Picking by moonlight is said to honor the crops, and ensure a bigger bounty next picking season. More about the strawberry moon meaning and the full moon of June here.
July Full Moon Names
Thunder Moon: Full moon of July. For these tribes, it was observed that this month is notorious for big booms of thunder and storms. Thus, the symbolic full moon name of “thunder moon.” Also referred to as Buck moon because deer begin forming their antlers at this time of year. Get more details about the Thunder Moon and the full moon of July meaning here.
August Full Moon Names
Sturgeon Moon or Red Moon: The full moon name for August. Those lazy days of summer when the moon is watched in its fullness and widens herself to the admiring sun. This is the month when summer kisses the moon most tender and we most often see a blush-colored or reddish hued moon. To the tribes of the Great Lakes it is a Sturgeon moon because this is when they are caught most.
September Full Moon Name
Harvest Moon: The Native American full moon name of September is the famous “harvest moon.” It represents the most advantageous time-frame in which we can pick (harvest) crops from the garden. The Native Americans knew this – they knew they would have almost a half-hour more time to harvest their bounty beneath the helpful luminosity of the moon. Get more information about the September full moon meanings here.
October Full Moon Name
Hunters Moon: The full moon of October. This is another symbolic moon name that’s obvious. This time represents the onset of prime hunting season. Heavy foliage is drifting away as quick as the season, and deer are a bit buggy this time of year. That means their easy to see clearly and easily downed for the First People’s purposes.
November Full Moon Name
Beaver Moon: The full moon name for November. As we’ve seen in the prior months, each symbolic name references a point within the epitome of the month. Beavers are coming into their fullness in November. So much so that the Natives knew to set traps early in the month because the beaver would be in her glory. Learn more about the meaning of the Beaver Moon here.
December Full Moon Names
Cold Moon: The symbolic full moon name for December. Also known as the “Long Night Moon.” Coming full circle, we find ourselves again in the frigid realm of winter. This is the month when some of the coldest and the longest nights live. Hence the Native American full moon names for this full moon of December. Get more about the full moon names of December and their meanings here.
Conclusion
The moon holds great mysteries in her silvery depths. Our Native American kin understood this and most if not all tribes had their own set of full moon names (this is just one tribal version). I encourage you to continue your ruminations on Native American full moon names by investigating other tribal moon names.
If you like this page, don’t miss my Native American Moon Sign page which discusses personality types according to Native full moons for each month.
Mighty brightly,
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