The Harvest Moon was so named in Europe because the light of the moon allowed farmers to work into the night to bring in the harvest. This full moon is always the one closer to the Autumnal Equinox, so although it most often occurs in September, it sneaks into October every now and again. The Diné call September’s moon the Big Harvest Moon. The Shoshone and the Passamaquoddy call September the Fall Moon, the Algonquin refer to the Middle Between Harvest and Eating Corn, and the Hopi people call this the Moon of the Full Harvest. In many places September is a time of Harvest and there are countless ways to celebrate the bounty of this time of year.
The Harvest Moon might just be my favorite full moon celebration, and its definetly the one we have been celebrating the longest. Its also an important celebration in many different cultures which is always something of interest to me. Many cultures believe that the Moon is at its brightest and fullest size at the Harvest Moon, coinciding with harvest time. In China and much of Southeast Asia there is the Mid-Autumn Festival. (In Japan its called: Tsukimi, Korea: Chuseok, and Vietnam:Tết Trung Thu) Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the moon, family and rejuvenation. Like most celebrations this time of year it also has ties to harvest time. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang’e, who is the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology.
If this time of year is not full of harvesting where you live, what else do you notice happening in nature? You can use my phenology tracker printable to record your nature observations and select a full name that makes sense for your area. Full moon names are a type of phenology, which is a way to record what is happening in nature. People often think there is only one “proper” name for each month, when in reality there are tons. Different tribes in the US have different names based on what is happening in nature in their area, and there are also names from Europe and beyond. Find a moon name that resonates for you!
Harvest Moon Coloring Page
Click on the image below to get the free printable! Find more fun green corn moon crafts, activities and recipes here.
These coloring pages are drawn by hand by me. They are for personal use only. No ai or resale please.