Ireland's OWN Myths & Magic

(Harvest Moon is also known as the Backwoods Moon, Chrysanthemum Moon, Elk Call Moon, Grandmother Moon, Mulberry Moon, Nut Moon, Singing Moon, Wine Moon)

Traditionally, the Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal (fall) Equinox (Mabon, Sept. 25). Although the Harvest Moon usually occurs in September, every three or four years it occurs in early October. Notably, the Harvest Moon occurs at what is usually considered the peak of the harvest.

The Harvest Moon (and the Hunter’s Moon, which occurs in October) are beneficial to farmers working to bring in their crops (or, in the case of the Hunter's Moon, hunters tracking their prey). Persons working under the light of these moons can continue being productive by moonlight even after the sun has set. This is because the moon usually rises about 50 minutes later each day, but there is a time difference in the occurrence of the Harvest and Hunter's Moons. For these full moons, the time difference between moonrise on successive evenings is shorter than usual. In other words, the moon rises approximately 30 minutes later, from one night to the next, as seen from about 40 degrees N. or S. latitude, for several evenings around the full Hunter's or Harvest Moons. Thus, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise around the time following these full moons.

Bigger, More Colourful

The Harvest Moon usually appears bigger or brighter or more colourful than other moons. These effects have to do with the seasonal tilt of the earth. The warm color of the moon shortly after it rises is an optical illusion, based on the fact that when the moon is low in the sky, you are looking at it through a greater amount of atmospheric particles than when the moon is overhead. The atmosphere scatters the bluish component of moonlight, but allows the reddish component of the light to travel a straighter path to your eyes. Hence all moons look reddish when they are low in the sky.

As for the large size of a full moon when seen low in the sky, it is true that the human eye perceives a low-hanging moon to be larger than one that's high in the sky. This is known as a Moon Illusion and it can be seen with any full moon. It can also be seen with constellations; in other words, a constellation viewed low in the sky will appear bigger than when it is high in the sky. The Chinese Traditional name for this moon is the Chrysanthemum Moon.

For The Birds

The Harvest Moon is advantageous to birds and bird lovers as well. This is the perfect time to watch the birds migrate past the light that emits from the moon. Moreover, some studies have proven that birds rely on the Harvest Moon to migrate from one area to another. It is also thought that most birds wait for this moon to begin their migration.

Norse Mythology

In Northern areas, the Harvest Moon is usually the first full moon after the first frost. In Norse mythology, the Harvest Moon is considered the most powerful of the Moons and thought to bestow the blessings of the god Loki upon the land for a bountiful harvest. In Norse mythology, the Harvest Moon is celebrated with gatherings, festivals and rituals

The Celts

The Harvest Moon is last full moon before Samhain, the Celtic New Year. The Celts call this the Singing Moon because of the celebration that followed the seasonal harvest. This is a time of completeness, a time for acceptance, and a time for rest after labour. The harvesters feel giddy and celebratory – they have completed their yearly tasks of ensuring the survival of the community, and now is the time to celebrate the completion of those labours. Essentially, the Celtic traditions are similar to those of the Norse. The Celts considered the Harvest Moon a blessing because the light allowed more time for the crops. Hence, a massive and somewhat festive evening of escalated crop gathering would be following by intense feasting, singing, dancing and corn-husking.

Wine

Some Pagans call this moon the Wine Moon because this moon rises to its fullest when the grapes are at their fullest, and ready for harvesting. The festive spirit of this celebratory moon, which often involves wine drinking, is thought to put Pagans in touch with their Divine Self and its wisdom. However, in addition to being a spirit moon in terms of festivities, this moon has another spiritual side as well. Following the festivities, this is a time search for wisdom within — to quiet and still the body, and in turn, let the spirit take over.

To Celebrate the Harvest Moon

Native Americans

For Native Americans, their food staples — corn, pumpkins, squash, beans., and wild rice — are now ready for gathering. The Cherokee call this moon the Nut Moon (because of harvesting some species of nuts from trees). The Choctaw call this the Mulberry Moon, while other Native Americans call it the Grandmother Moon, the Elk Moon or the Harvest Moon.

Poetry

Under the Harvest Moon
—by Carl Sandburg

Under the Harvest Moon,
When the soft silver

Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.

Under the summer roses
When the flagrant crimson
Lurks in the dusk
Of the wild red leaves,
Love, with little hands,
Comes and touches you
With a thousand memories,
And asks you
Beautiful, unanswerable questions.

Shine on Harvest Moon
—By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth (1903)

Shine on, shine on harvest moon
Up in the sky,
I ain’t had no lovin’
Since January, February, June or July
Snow time ain’t no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal.