The January full moon is called - Moon After Yule, Wolf Moon, or Old Moon

The first full moon of this year will be tonight. It is called the Wolf Moon, and it be closer to Earth and appear larger and brighter to us than at any other time during the year.

What is a full moon?

The full moon is a lunar phase occurring when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun and all three bodies are aligned in a straight line. It appears as an entire circle in the sky.

Full Moon as seen from the Earth

The only month that can occur without a full moon is February.

The world's tidal ranges are at their maximum during the full moon when the sun, earth and moon are in line.

The full moon is given different names, depending on when it appears:

• January - Moon After Yule, Wolf Moon, or Old Moon
• February - Snow Moon or Hunger Moon
• March - Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Worm Moon or Lenten Moon
• April - Grass Moon, Frog Moon or Egg Moon
• May - Milk Moon or Planting Moon
• June - Rose Moon, Flower Moon, or Strawberry Moon
• July - Thunder Moon or Hay Moon
• August - Grain Moon or Green Corn Moon
• September - Fruit Moon or Harvest Moon
• October - Harvest Moon or Hunter's Moon
• November - Hunter's Moon, Frosty Moon, or Beaver Moon
• December - Moon Before Yule or Long Night Moon.

Blue Moon

The second full moon occurring within a calendar month is called a Blue Moon. The last was seen on 31 December 2009. Far from being a rare event this phenomenon occurs once every three years on average.

A few facts about the Moon

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth.

The moon's orbit around Earth – which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days.

Links

Moon Calendar for 2012

Introduction to the phases of the Moon

Facts about the Moon

Also on this day.........

Tu B'Shevat - The New Year of the Trees (Jewish)
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday also known as the New Year for Trees. (Tu means 15) People plant trees in memory of a loved one or friend and eat fruit, particularly those that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
"Man is a tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19)
Note that in the Jewish calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day.

30 January 2012 - Mahayana Buddhist New Year (3 days) (Buddhist)
New Year for Mahayana Buddhists celebrated on the first full moon day in January

30 January - 6 February 2012 - National Storytelling Week
An annual event which aims to raise awareness of this ancient form of entertainment. Over 350 nationwide storytelling events and performances were organised this year for National Storytelling Week in Theatres, Book Shops, Libraries, Schools, Museums, Arts Centres, Storytelling Clubs, Retirement Homes and Pubs!

30 - 31 January 2012 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend
The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch is the world's biggest bird survey and the results help the RSPB to keep track of bird populations right across the UK. Just watch and count the birds in your garden or local park for an hour and submit your results.

Links

Multifaith Calendar 2012