The Worm Moon Is The First Spring Season Moon

Image by Susan Cipriano from Pixabay

The first full moon of the spring season is the Worm Moon which will reach its peak on Monday 25 March but it should be visible in the night sky for a couple of days either side.

How did the names of the moons originate?

Many ancient moon names have been given based on the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather during that month. The full moon in March gets its name of Worm Moon because the ground is getting warmer in the Northern Hemisphere and starts to thaw making the earthworms re-appear at the start of spring.

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac other names for the March full moon are Sap Moon as it is the time for tapping the sugar maple trees or Wind Strong Moon because of the strong winds at this time of year. The Northern American tribes called it Crow Moon as the crows could be heard cawing, beckoning the end of winter or Crust Moon because the snow on the ground thawed during the day, but crusted over because of the freezing night temperatures.

These names given by Native American tribes have been included into our modern calendar, but the full moon names also have Anglo-Saxon and Germanic roots.

There are a total of 12 full moon phases during the annual lunar cycle plus the occasional Blue Moon and each full moon has a unique name.

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Tips for seeing a full moon

Moons rise in the east and set in the west
If viewing from inside your house it is best to turn off lights so as to view the night sky
If outside it is best to go somewhere high so you can see the moon rise above the horizon
Viewing outside is the best and away from street lights and light pollution

Sleep and a full moon

Because the moon affects the tides, it is often said that full moons can also affect us. Issues with our immune system can be caused by lack of sleep or disturbed sleep. Some people find falling asleep harder during a full moon along with less time spent in a deep sleep. This lack of sleep can sometimes cause people to have worse headaches often called 'moon migraines'.

Full moons in 2024

Wolf Moon - 25 January
Snow Moon - 24 February
Worm Moon - 25 March
Pink Moon - 24 April
Flower Moon - 23 May
Strawberry Moon - 22 June
Buck Moon - 21 July
Sturgeon Moon - 19 August (Blue Moon)
Harvest Moon - 18 September (supermoon)
Hunter’s Moon - 17 October
Beaver Moon - 15 November
Cold Moon - 15 December

Why a full moon?

Full moons occur every 29.5 days or so as the moon moves to the side of Earth directly opposite the sun, reflecting the sun's rays off its full face and appearing as a brilliant, perfectly circular disk.

A full moon occurs when the moon's earth-facing side is completely illuminated by the sun. Scientists say that when you see the moon looking really large as it rises in the sky your brain is actually playing a trick on you.

There are many reasons as to why this is, but the main theory is that when the moon is low on the horizon it can be compared to earthly things, like buildings and trees, and this is why it seems huge.

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Moon Folklore

A bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year.
A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather.

The next moon will rise on the 24 April and is the Pink Moon