Watch for January's Full Wolf Moon!
The first full Moon of 2025 occurs on the night of Monday, January 13. Why do we call January鈥檚 Moon a 鈥淲olf Moon鈥? (It鈥檚 not because wolves are hungry.) Find out what鈥檚 special about this month鈥檚 Moon鈥攁s well as folklore and best days by the Moon.
When to See January鈥檚 Full Moon
January鈥檚 full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 5:27 P.M. EST.
At a full Moon, the Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun, so the face of the Moon facing towards the Earth will be entirely illuminated by the Sun鈥檚 rays.
Look for the January Moon to rise from the eastern horizon around sunset that evening. By midnight, the Wolf Moon glows bright and round overhead. By sunrise, it will disappear into the western horizon.
Consult our Moonrise Calculator to see what time you can expect to catch a glimpse of the first full Moon of 2025!
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Look up at the full Moon on the 13th (or a day earlier or later)! What do you think?
The sunset embers smolder low,
The Moon climbs o鈥檈r the hill,
The peaks have caught the alpenglow,
The robin鈥檚 song is still.
鈥揓ohn L. Stoddard (1850鈥1931)
Why Is It Called the Full Wolf Moon?
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself.
The Wolf Moon
It鈥檚 thought that January鈥檚 full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that isn鈥檛 accurate.
Howling and other wolf vocalizations are heard in the wintertime to locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, define territory, and coordinate hunting.
Alternative January Moon Names
Another fitting name for this full Moon is the Center Moon. Used by the Assiniboine people of the Northern Great Plains, it refers to the idea that this Moon roughly marks the middle of the cold season.
Other traditional names for the January Moon emphasize the harsh coldness of the season: Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), and Severe Moon (Dakota). Hard Moon (Dakota) highlights the phenomenon of the fallen snow developing a hard crust.
Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Great Moon (Cree), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki), and Spirit Moon (Ojibwe) have also been recorded as Moon names for this month.
鈫 See all 12 months of Full Moon names and their meanings.
Moon Phases for January 2025
Below are the dates and times (in Eastern Time) of the Moon鈥檚 phases in January. See our Moon Phase Calendar for times in your city/state.
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: January 6, 6:56 P.M. |
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: January 13, 5:27 P.M. |
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: January 21, 3;31 P.M. |
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: January 29, 7:36 A.M. |
鈫 When is the next full Moon? See our Full Moon Dates chart.
January Full Wolf Moon Video
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about January鈥檚 full Wolf Moon. Click below to watch the video.
Best Days in January 2025
贵辞谤&苍产蝉辫;笔濒补苍迟颈苍驳鈥
鈥boveground crops: 3-5, 31
鈥elowground crops: 21-23
For Setting Eggs
10, 11, 18, 19
1-13, 29-31
鈫 See all our Best Days for various activities.
Moon Folklore
A bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest; a red-tinted Moon means a dry year.
A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
A halo around the Moon predicts wet or stormy weather.
Share your thoughts about this month鈥檚 full Moons below. Tell us if we鈥檙e missing anything that you would like to know!
Catherine Boeckmann
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This is so cool because I have to write a whole paragraph on the blood moon for school.
Im not sure if this is on topic but I'm an Aquarius and I honestly love the moon so much. I have a telescope and digital camera and I look at the moon as much as I can & take pictures of it. Wolves are honestly my favorite animal,and it was a coincidence that was what my moon is called. I'm very independent,aloof,and I love nature. Such as the woods or lakes etc.. it kind of makes sense to me of why it is called the wolf moon. Correct me if I'm wrong?
I also love the moon and my favorite animal is also the wolf! Your description could fit me as well, however my husband is an aquarius and he has no love of the moon, or nature, he pretty much just could sit in his basement for eternity in the dark with his music and be fine.
I am Aquarius also and have always loved the moon and thunderstorms. I want to say that God is amazing and I am so in love with his creation. As his child, I feel so thankful for eternal life through his son Jesus. One night after a prayer asking if he could hear me and if he could to show me a sign. I looked up and immediately saw a shooting star. What are the odds. Only God. Amazing the love I felt and will always feel.
I forgot to mention. Every full moon I go out late at night by myself on the side of my house and look at the moon & see it so captivating & feel a good sensation in my eyes and my heart.
I also do the same thing when the full moon crosses outside of my window I open up my blinds or go outside and sit and watch the beautiful moon pass,Wishing I could touch it!
I also LOVE the moon and the stars at night. It's the most peaceful time of the day for me!
This is really really really koolzzz
When I was a kid, we always cut calves in the 4th quarter. A great Dr. we knew would only operate in the last quarter. When are the 4th quarters of 2016?
Hi Jeanne, You can find all the Moon phases here:
We also have a Best Days calendar here which speaks to lifestock:
Hope you find this helpful! —Your OFA Editors
