The crackling sound of icy tree branches breaking pierces the silence of the snow-covered forest, while the full moon glistens with a silver glow on the snowy ground. Known as the “Cold Moon,” this December full moon is named by many Native American tribes to denote the coldest temperatures of the year during the harsh winter. Even now, the full moon in December still carries this traditional name.
This year, the full moon is set to appear in mid-December, resulting in a rare phenomenon known as the “Black Moon.”
On December 15th at 4:02 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in the United States, the Cold Moon will reach its maximum illumination, signifying its theoretical fullness. Fortunately, this falls on a Sunday, making it convenient for most to either wake up early or stay up late to watch the moon. The moons on December 14th and 16th will also appear almost as full.
Following the footsteps of indigenous tribal residents, as you tread into the deep, fluffy snow, listening to the cracking of tree bark covered in white frost, you might come across another name for the full moon. According to the “Old Farmer’s Almanac,” due to the sound of frozen tree sap bursting in the trees, the Arapaho and Oglala tribes refer to it as the “Popping Trees Moon.” Other names like “Frost Exploding Moon” and “Hoar Frost Moon” evoke similar wintry scenes.
The Cold Moon is one of the many moon names derived from colonial and Native American traditions. December nights are the longest of the year, and the winter solstice night is the longest night. Therefore, the Mahican and Oneida tribes call this moon the “Full Long Nights Moon” or “Long Night Moon.” Of course, there are many more moon names that somehow reflect the season.
This December, the moon’s cycle will also present a rare and peculiar phenomenon. The Cold Moon’s fullness falls right in the middle of December, giving observers enough time to enjoy not just one but two new moons—one at the beginning of the month and one at the end. The occurrence of two new moons within a month is referred to as the “Black Moon.” It’s an intriguing phenomenon, albeit invisible in the daytime sky.
However, let’s not linger too long in the darkness of the Black Moon. Good times are on the horizon towards the end of the month, as December is a time of joy and celebration! Many moon names reflect this cheerful fact. Christmas gives rise to the European moniker of the “Christmas Moon,” also known as the “Moon Before Christmas.” So, as the middle of December approaches, sing a holiday tune under the bright light of the full moon: Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the Christmas Moon is so delightful!
The original article titled “Full ‘Cold Moon’ to Grace the Night Sky Days Before Christmas—and the ‘Black Moon’ in December Too” was published on the English version of the Epoch Times website.