JACKSON, Wyo. — How about that moon?
The thirteenth and final full moon of the year graced the skies on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer captured some beautiful stills of the clear night.
The bright moon bathed the valley in light for the past several evenings, illuminating the snowy ground. December’s full moon is known colloquially as the “Cold Moon,” reflecting its position as the first full moon after the official beginning of winter. According to The Almanac, the Cree people have called December’s full moon the “Drift Clearing Moon,” “Exploding Trees Moon” and “Hoar Frost Moon,” all in reference to the cold and snow. Cherokee and Haida nations called December’s moon the “Snow Moon.” Western Abenaki called it the “Winter Maker Moon.” The Algonquin tribes named December’s full moon the “Wolf Moon” after the wolf packs roaming through the snow this time of year.
The Mohican name, the “Long Night Moon,” refers to the long nights surrounding the winter solstice and the fact that this full moon hangs above the horizon for longer than other full moons. Ancient pagans called December’s full moon the “Moon Before Yule” referring to the Yuletide festival celebrating the winter solstice.
Those who believe in astrology know that the moon rose in the sign of Cancer, which portends an emotional end to the year for followers of the zodiac.
