Watch for December's Full Cold Moon!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the Cold Moon is so delightful! The Full Moon for December appears on December 14, 2024. Learn why the full Cold Moon (also called the Long Night Moon) is special and when the best times for viewing it are.
When to See December鈥檚 Full Moon
The full Moon for December is 100% illuminated on December 15, 4:02 A.M. (EST). To find the exact time it will appear in your area, consult our Moon Rise Calculator.
The Full Cold Moon
The moon names we use in The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 come from Native Americans, Colonial Americans, or other traditional sources passed down through generations. Different Native American peoples traditionally used the monthly Moons and nature鈥檚 corresponding signs as a calendar to track the seasons.
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December鈥檚 full Moon is most commonly known as the Cold Moon鈥攁 Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us.
The Long Night Moon
This full Moon has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the 鈥渓ongest鈥 nights of the year, near the December winter solstice.
This name is doubly fitting because December鈥檚 full Moon shines above the horizon for a more extended period than most full Moons.
Alternative December Moon Names
Other names that allude to the cold and snow include Drift Clearing Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree), Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee), and Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki).
Other names include Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota) and Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe).
In Europe, ancient pagans called the December full Moon the 鈥Moon Before Yule鈥 in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun heralded by the winter solstice.
鈫 See a full calendar year of full Moon names and their meanings.
Moon Phases for December 2024
Below are the dates and times (in Eastern Time) of the Moon鈥檚 phases in December. Click here to see the Moon phase dates and times for your location.
This December is unique because we have TWO new Moons. We call this a black Moon.
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: December 1, 1:21 A.M. |
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: December 8, 10:27 A.M. |
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: December 15, 4:02 A.M. |
| First Quarter: December 22, 5:18 P.M. |
| New Moon: December 30, 5:27 P.M. |
When is the next Full Moon? Consult our Full Moon Dates chart.
Best Days in December 2024
Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon鈥檚 sign and phase in December.
For Harvesting
- Aboveground crops: 7, 8
- Belowground crops: 25-27
For Setting Eggs
- 13-15, 22, 23
For Fishing
- 1-15, 30, 31
See Best Days for more activities.
Moon Folklore
- If a snowstorm begins when the Moon is young, it will cease at moonrise.
Share your thoughts about this month鈥檚 Moon below!
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See our Best Days timetable for best times to get your hair cut: http://www.almanac.com/bestdays/timetable
My mother looked at my face when she would look at the moon on the day of the first moon for good luck.
I knew the Solstice was on its way, (beginning of summer, not winter, if you think about it... all the days start getting longer from this point out-- how's that for a cheery thought?) but I had forgotten the lore about 'hair cuts!' Yesterday I had scheduled, weeks ago, the major trimming for our huge trees, esp. the apples, which you can't trim until after several hard freezes. Well my trees should grow full and fill out this next year, they say, and the wood peckers sure are excited today. The moon last night was spectacular, the night creatures all bathed in blue.
In many traditions things are cut on the full moon because living things sre at their fullest. For example native tribes in Mexico harvest roots for medicine on full moon b/c the plant is full, the moon pulls on it the same as the tides, the same as a woman's cycle etc. it would make sense that hair and nails are the same.
Full Moon for fullness , new moon for growth.
My mother used to clip the ends of my hair during a full moon. It always grew back richer and fuller.
thank you for this it saved me time because im not getting up @ 4 am to look @ it who am i kidding i am
On average everyone's hair grows 6" a year -1/2" a month. I trim/cut my hair on the new moon. It is to my knees. Here is what I know- Hair won't grow if you are not eating enough protein -or use too much heat from chemicals or blow drying. Remember - also can't trim or cut hair faster than it grows. so keep it in good condition so you need to trim only a few inches a year.
When is the best time to get your hair cut Is it during the period from the full moon to the last quarter of moon
Is it true to have your hair cut on the full moon cycle and when are those days thanks
