The sky at night on December 26, 2023 will be illuminated by the full moon. And although the Earth’s satellite has already been visible since December 24, 2023, today the full moon will reach its climax. The moon will be 100% illuminated on December 26th.
The full moon on New Year’s Eve is the last, thirteenth. Its most famous name is Cold Moon (“Ψυχρή Σελήνη”). This is what the North American Indians called it because of the harsh winter season. Another name known in the Northern Hemisphere is Long Night Moon, as it is the full moon closest to the solstice. In other cultures, the astronomical phenomenon is called differently:
- in the Southern Hemisphere – Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon;
- in China – Bitter Moon;
- among the Cherokees – Snow Moon;
- in England – Oak Moon.
Sometimes the December Moon is called the Christmas Moon, but in this case this is not entirely true, because it should coincide with Christmas on December 25th. What happens about once every 19 years: this happened in 2015, and the next one will happen in 2034.
In Europe, ancient pagans called the December full moon the “Yuletide Moon” in honor of the Yuletide holiday, which celebrated the “return of the sun” marked by the winter solstice.
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