1884

Full Moons of 1885

1886

Every full moon of 1885, including traditional names used for centuries by Native American and European cultures. These names reflect seasonal activities and natural phenomena.

Wolf Moon

January

Thursday, January 1, 1885

Named after the howling wolves that could be heard during the cold, dark nights of January. Also called the Ice Moon or Old Moon.

Wolf Moon

January

Friday, January 30, 1885

Named after the howling wolves that could be heard during the cold, dark nights of January. Also called the Ice Moon or Old Moon.

Worm Moon

March

Sunday, March 1, 1885

Named for the earthworm trails that appear in the newly thawed soil of March, signaling the return of spring.

Worm Moon

March

Monday, March 30, 1885

Named for the earthworm trails that appear in the newly thawed soil of March, signaling the return of spring.

Pink Moon

April

Wednesday, April 29, 1885

Named after the pink phlox wildflowers that bloom in early spring across North America. Also called the Sprouting Grass Moon.

Flower Moon

May

Thursday, May 28, 1885

Named for the abundant flowers that bloom in May across the Northern Hemisphere. Also known as the Corn Planting Moon.

Strawberry Moon

June

Saturday, June 27, 1885

Named by the Algonquin peoples for the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in June.

Buck Moon

July

Monday, July 27, 1885

Named for the time when male deer begin to regrow their antlers in July. Also called the Thunder Moon.

Sturgeon Moon

August

Tuesday, August 25, 1885

Named by the Great Lakes peoples for the abundance of sturgeon fish caught in August.

Harvest Moon

September

Thursday, September 24, 1885

The full moon closest to the autumn equinox. Its bright light helped farmers harvest crops after sunset.

Hunter's Moon

October

Friday, October 23, 1885

Following the Harvest Moon, October's full moon illuminated the fields for hunters pursuing their prey.

Beaver Moon

November

Sunday, November 22, 1885

Named for the time when beavers finish building their dams and lodges before winter. Also called the Frost Moon.

Cold Moon

December

Monday, December 21, 1885

Named for the long, cold nights of December when winter firmly grips the Northern Hemisphere.