What’s happening on Friday the 13th? The Harvest Moon.

The meaning and folklore behind the big, orange moon.

Sep 09, 2019

It’s almost Friday the 13^th—Eek! If you look into the night sky on Friday, you hopefully won’t see anything scary. You will see a beautiful, bright Harvest Moon. What is the Harvest Moon, and why is it so special?

The moon is our closest neighbor in space. You can view a full moon every month, but the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon. That would make September’s full moon, this year’s Harvest Moon. It will be visible to those living on the east coast on September 14^th at 12:33am early Saturday morning. Some years, a Harvest Moon can also happen during October.

The autumnal equinox is an astrological event on September 23^rd, 2019. It marks the start of fall in the northern hemisphere, and the start of spring in the southern hemisphere. On the both the autumnal and spring equinoxes, day and night are almost the same length of time and the sun shines directly on the equator.

During the autumnal equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator.

Where did the name come from?

The Harvest Moon got its name because it shone brilliantly in the sky, just when farmers were harvesting their crops for winter. Before electricity, the Harvest Moon’s glow allowed farmers to gather crops late into the night. During the month of the Harvest Moon, sunset blends right into moonrise with little darkness in between, creating vivid early-evening skies for days on-end. Because of this, it seems like the moon stays full for multiple days in a row!

This autumn moon is also known by other names. Native Americans called it the Full Corn Moon to go along with the time they harvested corn. It’s been called the Barley Moon because the crop becomes ripe for harvesting during the equinox. Past civilizations have also called it the Singing Moon and the Wine Moon. The Chinese call it the August Moon—Their calendar is slightly different from ours. They celebrate this time with a game-filled festival and make “mooncakes.”

The Harvest Moon is traditionally thought to bring good luck, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac

Why is it big and orange?

During the fall equinox, the moon stays lower in the sky. When the moon sits lower, it looks larger, but it’s not. This is an optical illusion. A moon that sits lower on the horizon also forces us to look through a larger distance of the atmosphere to see it. More dust particles often fill the air from farmers harvesting their crops in the fall, and when we look through these dust particles, the moon changes color. The angle of the moon as well as the air particles scattering the sky’s light cause the moon to look orange.

A moon that sits lower on the horizon forces us to look through a larger distance of the atmosphere to see it, making it seem colored.

Harvest Moon superstitions

The harvest moon seems a little spookier this year—and that’s because it falls on the Friday the 13^th, which superstitious people call an unlucky day. There’s hardly ever a full moon on this date, much less a Harvest Moon. The last time this happened was on October 13^th, 2000, and it won’t happen again until August 13^th, 2049.

In actuality, the Harvest Moon is traditionally thought to bring good luck, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Some people view a full moon, and especially the Harvest Moon, as the perfect time to create change in their lives. As summer ends, some people like to use the coming of the Harvest Moon as an opportunity to think about everything they’ve accomplished so far during the year, to celebrate it, and to be grateful for it. Here are some things you can do to celebrate the Harvest Moon:

Make jam or freeze your favorite fruit. For ages, farmers used this time to harvest and store their food for winter. Get an adult to show you how to preserve your own harvest.
Make changes and start fresh. This is a great time to hit the “reset” button. What did you learn over the summer? What habits are working for you this year? What’s not working?
Throw an outdoor evening party with your family and friends to celebrate the year’s last warm days, everything you’ve accomplished, and the bright moonlight.
Clear clutter from your room and get out your sweaters and cozy blankets. Make a list of movies to watch or books to read in the upcoming months. It will make you feel ready for fall and winter.
Clear clutter from your mind. Sit under the stars and set new goals. Think about what your dreams are and let old go of old disappointments and baggage you may be hanging on to.

If you live in the western or central states of America, take a minute during this spooky Friday to find the Harvest Moon!