For all you superstitious types and the rest of the curious people out there, the Hunter’s Blue Moon, a special lunar event, will occur on October 31, Halloween night!
A Blue Moon is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month.
It can happen because it takes our Moon about 29.5 days to complete one cycle (from new Moon to new Moon), so if a full Moon occurs on the first of a month, there will be a second full Moon known as a Blue Moon at the end of the month too (except in February).
But that’s not the only thing that makes this October special. This month will contain both the Harvest Moon and the Hunter’s Moon, which are unique as far as full Moon names go. And in a rare treat, the 2020 Halloween full moon will be visible to the entire world, rather than just parts of it, for the first time since World War II. It’s so bright at the full phase it doesn’t matter if you’re in a crowded city or out on the farm. And you don’t need pricey equipment to see it.
The Harvest Moon is defined as the full Moon that happens nearest to the Autumnal Equinox (September 22, 2020), while the Hunter’s Moon is the full Moon that directly follows the Harvest Moon.
Typically, this means that the Harvest Moon occurs in September, followed by the Hunter’s Moon in October. This year October will contain two full Moons, on the 1st and 31st, which means that the Hunter’s Moon will also be a Blue Moon!
Many people ask what is a Blue Moon? Many question if the term “Blue Moon” is an astronomy one, if it originates with Native folklore or does it look blue? The answer is ‘no’ to all.
In 2018, there were Blue Moons in both January and March The next time there will be two Blue Moons in a single year is 2037.
Once in a “blue moon,” we gaze up at the sky and see a full moon shrouded in mystery, magic and folklore. The very term “blue moon” is over 400 years old when Shakespeare first wrote the words to mean rare or absurd. The rarity of a full moon appearing twice in one month, must have inspired this great playwright to coin the term.
The earliest calendars known to humankind marked the passages of the moon. The phases of the moon helped people see the change of seasons. Or helped them make plans. So it is not surprising that when ancient people saw an “extra” full moon it would spark their imagination, thus creating stories, legends and superstitions.
In some cultures, the blue moon was considered fortunate, something to celebrate, and a perfect time to start a long-term goal or make plans for the future. This rarity in the sky has been the basis of myths and superstitions throughout the world for centuries. One superstition was that girls that who stared at a blue moon would become pregnant. Imagine trying to convince her parents of that explanation.
Another is, if you see a blue moon, turn over a coin from your pocket for good luck. Even if this myth is farfetched, I’m going to do that with all coins from now on. I need some good luck!
If you sleep with the moon on your face, particularly a blue moon, you may go insane, so blinds were drawn at all full moon phases just in case.
Although these superstitions seem silly by today’s standards, the fact that they still exist should be considered extraordinary. People today, still believe in the magic of the moon’s fertility. Some even now, plan pregnancies during moon cycles, and farmers and gardeners plant crops according to the cycles as well.
Among the metaphysical or spiritual community, particularly wiccans and pagans, a blue moon is a powerful moon. This is usually prime time for rituals of prophecy and protection. It’s also a good time to perform rituals to attract a new job, healings, love, legal undertakings, money and dreams.
So if you are looking to improve your luck or to finish a long-term goal, don’t worry about the ancient superstitions! Instead, focus on this blue moon on the 31st as a lucky one and the beginning of a great new journey for yourself.
