A BLUE MOON

By Marshall McClung
Contributing Writer to the Graham Star

You have no doubt heard the expression “Once in a blue moon”, but do you know what it means and how the term came about? Most have a general idea that it is referring to something that seldom happens, or once in a great while. As to “blue moon”, if you are of my generation, you thing of the song “Blue Moon” by the Marcels in 1961. It was a “doo-wop” version of a 1934 song of the same name by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart.

Many agree that a “blue moon” refers to the second full moon in the same month, with the second full moon being the “blue moon”. Such an event occurs this year in November with a full moon on the first day and last day of the month. Usually, a month only has one full moon, but since full moons occur once about every twenty-nine and one half days, or a little over twelve times a year, months having two full moons occur about every two and three-fourths years. About every nineteen years, we will two months with two full moons, because February will have no full moon at all that year.Why is it called a “blue “moon”? This is thought to be because certain atmospheric conditions can cause the moon to appear to be blue. The eruption of the Krakatoa Volcano in Indonesia was said to have caused the moon to appear to be blue for two years. In 1927 smoke from huge forest fires in Canada, caused the moon to appear to be blue. Some argue that the “blue moon” would be the thirteenth full moon of a year, since that would be the extra full moon. The term “blue moon” dates back to at least 1528.

The full moons of each month have been given names by Native Americans and others:

January: Wolf Moon, Old Moon

February: Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Opening Buds Moon

March: Maple Sugar Moon, Worm Moon, Sap Moon, Crow Moon

April: Frog Moon, Pink Moon, Planter’s Moon, Grass Moon

May: Flower Moon, Budding Moon, Milk Moon

June: Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon

July: Blood Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon

August: Green Corn Moon

September: Harvest Moon, Fruit Moon

October: Hunter’s Moon, Falling Leaves Moon

November: Frost Moon, Beaver Moon

December: Cold Moon, Long Night Moon

The Holy Bible also mentions the moon and what will happen to it at the end of time. Joel 2:31 says the moon will be turned into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. Acts 2:20 has a similar remark Revelation 6:12 states that during the vision of John when the sixth seal is opened, the moon became as blood.