2021 Full Moon Dates

As you know, here at Drawn Together Art, we love the moon, especially the full moon. It inspires so much of our art and we love a spot of moon gazing. Here are the dates of the full moons this coming year. Keep your eyes peeled for the full moon in 2021!

2021 Full Moon Dates:

28th January - Wolf Moon

27th February - Snow Moon

28th March - Sap Moon

26th April - Pink Moon

26th May - Flower Moon

24th June - Strawberry Moon

23rd July - Buck Moon

22nd August - Sturgeon Moon

20th September - Harvest Moon

20th October - Hunter Moon

19th November - Beaver Moon

18th December - Cold Moon

Why do the full moons have names?

These most famous moon nick-names date back to native Americans, where tribes gave names to the full moons to keep track of the seasons. However giving names to the full moons has been common in many cultures throughout history. Some months have a few different moon nick-names. March, for example, can be known as the Sap Moon or Worm Moon.

The native American moon names lend themselves to whatever agricultural activitiy, or seasonal change, the tribes would need to be prepared for that month. The most well known moon nick-name is the Harvest Moon, occurring in early autumn, when harvest would be collected in time for winter. The Beaver Moon is named after native Americans setting beaver traps in November, as they needed the fur to keep warm in the coming cold winter months.

How long is a Moon Cycle?

The moon has a 29.5 day cycle, which means some years we get 13 full moons. The second full moon in one calendar month is called a blue moon (this is where the expression ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ comes from).

In 2021 we will have 12 full moons.

When is the Harvest Moon?

The early Autumn full moons have different names depending on how near they are to the Autumn Equinox. The full moon that occurs nearest to the Autumn Equinox (in 2021 this will be on Wednesday 22 September) is know as the Harvest Moon.

This means that the Harvest Moon can occur in either September, or (more rarely) at the beginning of October. When the Harvest Moon falls in October, we call the September full moon a Corn Moon. October’s full moon is normally called a Hunter’s Moon. This was the perfect month to hunt deer and fox, now unable to hide in the bare fields after the harvest. The bright Hunter's Moon is also gave hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night.

We hope you find our blog on 2021 Full Moon Dates useful!