THE BUCK MOON

 

FULL MOON in July 2021. 

What's in a Moon's name.

Photographs by Tony Fernandes, Mississauga, ON. Canada.

The Maine Farmer's Almanac first published Native American names for the full Moons in the 1930s. According to this almanac, as the full Moon in July – the Algonquin tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called this full Moon the Buck Moon. Early summer is normally when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. They also called this the Thunder Moon because of early Summer's frequent thunderstorms. Last night's Full Moon is also called Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, Mead Moon, Tu B'Av, Guru Purnima in India, Asalha Puha (also known as Dharma Day or Esala Poya), and the start of Vassa.