{"id":28594,"date":"2023-06-21T01:10:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T05:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=28594"},"modified":"2023-06-12T22:56:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T02:56:24","slug":"learning-lunar-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2023\/06\/21\/learning-lunar-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning Lunar"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Full Moon<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

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How exciting to be three issues into our Learning Lunar column and already able to wax lyrical (pun intended) about the full moon! L\u00fanasa 2023 falls on August 1st<\/sup> which, this year, is also a full moon. L\u00fanasa, or Lughnasadh, is an Irish festival co-opted by many Pagan traditions as a time of harvest celebration, games, competitions, and other summer festivities. Another popular celebration held at this time is Lammas, the Anglo-Saxon early Christian festival of blessing the first fruits and loaves of the seasons. Having the full moon to add to these blessings can only add to their fruitfulness!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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What Does the Phrase \u201cA Full Moon\u201d Really Mean?<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Almost unbelievably, the definition of a full moon is somewhat up for debate. Some state that it\u2019s when the moon is at its maximum visibility. Others state the moon can be classed as full during the two days surrounding this event. The Google dictionary defines it as, \u201cThe phase of the moon in which its whole disc is illuminated,\u201d which is pretty clear. If the moon is a big, glowing circle, rather than egg or crescent shape, it\u2019s full.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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What Causes a Full Moon?<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The moon appears to wax and wane due to the Earth coming between the moon and the sun and casting shadow on the surface of the moon. During a full moon, one entire side of our satellite is completely lit by the sun, creating the gorgeous glow associated with bright, moonlit nights. Full moons occur every 29 and a half days, which is why lunar months don\u2019t match calendar months, and why there are often 13 \u201cmoons\u201d in a year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Traditional Full Moon Names for August<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many traditional names or folk names for the different full moons throughout the year. Some of these come from European roots, such as the Wolf Moon in January. Others have their origins with the indigenous people of America, such as August\u2019s Sturgeon Moon. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NASA states that it\u2019s the Algonquin tribe that gave this moon its name<\/a>, referring to the ease with which they could catch sturgeon in the Great Lakes at this time of year. This information first came to us in a 1930s Maine Farmers\u2019 Almanac, and has been oft-repeated since. That means its accuracy can\u2019t be confirmed without a better understanding of the history of Algonquian traditions. However, it\u2019s certainly an evocative name. Alternatives include:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n