The Cold Moon

Historically, Native Americans named each full moon as a way to track the seasons. The next full moon will occur on December 12th and is known as the Cold Moon or the Long Night Moon. In Europe, this moon is often referred to as the Moon before Yule. Yule is an old northern European winter festival that is now associated with Christmas and the winter holiday season. The Long Night Moon gets its name because the full moon in December occurs near the winter solstice, which has the longest night of the year. This full moon sits above the horizon for a long period of time as the winter cold fastens its grip, and the nights become long and dark. Each full Moon names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Yule, or Kwanza, it's a time of peace and friendship to all mankind and to the creatures that inhabit the earth. As the ground is starting to freeze and food is getting scarce, it becomes a great time to fill your bird feeders.

Allow yourself time to rest and repair. But also allow yourself time to celebrate and share.

Remember, the best time to observe a full moon isn’t when it’s bright, white, and high in the night sky, but rather when it's close to the horizon as it rises and sets. Nature speaks to us continuously if we take the time to observe it and be one with it. The reward of the Cold Moon will drench you in the beauty of this chilly, snow white season.