Saturday, April 16, 2011

The Full Moon of April


The Full Moon of April is known as the "Full Pink Moon". This yer it is April 18. The name comes from one of the earliest widespread flowers of Spring, the herb moss pink aka Creeping Phlox as pictured above in my garden, and/or wild ground phlox.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Source: Farmers Almanac. (Last year, the full moon was on April 28.)

Other names for this months’ full moon include the "Full Grass Moon", the "Egg Moon" and among coastal tribes, the "Full Fish Moon", as this was the time the shad swam upstream to spawn. My friends in NJ have been enjoying shad roe this year, so the shad are still aqround!

April's new moon was on the 3rd and the Full Moon is on the 18th.

Moon Folklore

* Rail fences cut during the dry, waning Moon will stay straighter.

* Wooden shingles and shakes will lie flatter if cut during the dark of the Moon.

* Fence posts should be set in the dark of the Moon to resist rotting. Ozark lore says that fence posts should always be set as the tree grew. To set the root end upward makes a short-lived fence.

* Don't begin weaning when the Moon is waning.

* Castrate and dehorn animals when the Moon is waning for less bleeding.

* Slaughter when the Moon is waxing for juicier meat.

* Crabbing, shrimping, and clamming are best when the Moon is full.

* Best days for fishing are between the new and full Moon.

* Dig your horseradish in the full Moon for the best flavor.

* Set eggs to hatch on the Moon's increase, but not if a south wind blows.

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