Strawberry Moon: Naming the Last Full Moon Of Spring June 2023

(Photo : Adem Altan / Getty Images)
June 2023: Strawberry Moon, a moniker with Native American roots is the last full moon for the spring season.

This month, June 2023, will have the final full moon of the spring season; it is dubbed Strawberry Moon, a moniker with Native American roots.

Before summer in the Northern Hemisphere begins on June 21, or the summer solstice, the moon will be at its brightest on Saturday at 11:42 PM ET.

Strawberry Moon in June

According to NASA, the full moon will start to appear on Friday evening and stay until Monday morning. It is known as the Strawberry Moon and was given that name by the Algonquin tribes. The term refers to the northeastern US region's very brief strawberry harvesting season.

The Old Farmer's Almanac claims that the name "Strawberry" for this full moon is derived from the Native American term for it. It is intended to serve as a reminder of when to pick strawberries, FOX Weather reports.

According to NASA, the name was inspired by the northeastern United States' unusually brief strawberry harvesting season.

Why Strawberry?

The Strawberry Moon is the name given to the full Moon in June, which is often the last full Moon of the spring season or the start of summer. The term "Strawberry Moon" has nothing to do with the Moon's color or form, despite the compelling imagery. Strawberries are undoubtedly a reddish-pink color and have a roundish shape. When the Moon is close to the horizon, it typically appears reddish because the light must travel through the thickest layers of the atmosphere.

Native American Algonquian tribes in the northeastern United States, as well as the Dakota, Ojibwe, and Lakota peoples, have used this "Strawberry Moon" moniker to denote the maturing of "June-bearing" strawberries that are ready to be collected. This is reflected in the Haida phrase Berries Ripen Moon as well. June is a month of incredible plenty for many people as flowers blossom and early fruit ripens.

Also Read: Earthshine: Earth Illuminates Moon with Ghostly Da Vinci Glow 

Moon Names

The Old Farmer's Almanac borrows its full Moon names from a variety of sources such as Colonial American, Native American, and European ones. The names of the full and new Moons have historically been used to keep track of the seasons. Today, it is widely believed that Moon names are merely modern-day "nicknames" for the Moon.

The 12 full moons that occur each year have distinct names in various civilizations. Typically, they are based on a typical activity that occurs at that time of year rather than a specific hue.

Anishinaabe uses the term Blooming Moon to describe the blossoming season, whereas Cherokees use the term Green Corn Moon and Western Abenakis use the term Hoer Moon to indicate that it is time to care for immature crops.

Other titles emphasize that this is a time of new life, such as "Birth Moon," which the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest used to denote the period when certain animals give birth. Cree words like "hatching moon" and "egg-laying moon" also allude to a period when numerous animals are giving birth.

The Honey Moon and Mead Moon are two more names for this Moon used in Europe. Marriage was customarily celebrated in June, which bears the name of the Roman goddess of union, Juno. The "honeymoon," which is connected to this other name for the Moon, occurs after marriage, Almanac reports.

Related Article: Red Moon Explained: What Causes It and How Rare Is a Blood Moon?