What’s a ‘Strawberry Moon’? Here’s the story behind June’s full moon (+ when it happens)
Long before the adoption of the 12 named months of the Gregorian calendar, Native Americans marked time by the appearance of full moons. Each full moon of the year had a name that coincided with an event in the life of the community.
Here’s the meaning behind June’s full moon.
What is the Strawberry Moon?
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, some North American native tribes called the full moon in June the Strawberry Moon, because it coincides with the ripening of wild strawberries.
In North Carolina, some members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — one of the eight state-recognized tribes — refer to this one as the Green Corn Moon, noting the emergence of one of the tribe’s historically important crops.
Aianta.com, which advocates for the Native American tourism industry, says the Catawba Indians, who also lived in North Carolina but are now based in South Carolina, called the June full moon the River Moon.
When is the Strawberry Moon?
This year, according to astronomy.com, the Strawberry Moon will rise on June 21.
This year, the Strawberry Moon is the day after the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which marks the beginning of summer. (Summer solstice is when the sun is at its northernmost point, the Almanac says, creating the longest day of the year and the shortest night.)
What are some other names for June’s full moon?
Other tribes have called June’s full moon the Flowering Moon, the Gardening Moon or the Summer Moon.
This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 11:06 AM with the headline "What’s a ‘Strawberry Moon’? Here’s the story behind June’s full moon (+ when it happens)."
