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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The moon is magnificent this evening at 10.40pm. Especially reflecting off the remaining snow. Perfect for manifesting positive things.
The full moon for December looked awesome in the sky.
The Dakota Sioux may also call December the Moon of Popping Trees. History shares that the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred around the moon of popping trees which was December.
Since the next full moon on Winter Solstice isn't until 2094, (and I will most likely be dead and gone) I am ecstatic that the moon will be almost full on Dec. 21, Winter Solstice 2018. I'll make sure my kids plan something for 2094. ;-)
i see it as another 'sign' to "look up, for your redemption draweth near" -- Jesus Luke 21:28
"pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the sabbath" -- Jesus Matt 24:21
could this be the day He comes for the snatching of His bride?? to escape the coming tribulation of Jacob's trouble?? maybe.. i pray so!!
Turn to Jesus now! for all who call on His Name and believe on Him will be saved and forgiven of all their sins. He is the Savior of the world! He is the promised Messiah! He is alive and coming again!! Come to Him! no sin is too great! the invitation is to all !!!! Hurry!!!
I'm not asking anybody to believe me but I have two witnesses and we actually saw a real dragon flying around the moon on the winter solstice night, it comes every year, just watch for the summer solstice full moon about 5:00 in the morning and please share with what you see, don't say I didn't tell you. It flies around the moon, which can't be done in a few minutes so the time in space is different or it came from a time Warp. Keep on the watch!
So, almost everyone knows about hair, seeds, fishing in moon fuses. There is also caution on full moon be careful with water. Usually recommended 2,5l per day. But on full moon better decrees amount to 1l. Include soup, coffee, tea, juice.
Well, the moon is a fun piece of space sculpture to keep your eyes on. Ask some NASA astronauts if its really a planet. Haaaaa. I love a mystery! Am I watching a "MOON"? Or could it be watching ME? Its all FUN!!
Hey for that last few mornings here in SE Minnesota, looking straight west, I've seen a bright object in the sky that at times, seems to be blinking. Do you think it is a star, satellite, or planet? Thanks!
If the object does not appear to move, then it is likely a star. The blinking or twinkling you see is called scintillation, and happens when the star’s light passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. Differing air densities of the atmosphere make the light appear to twinkle. This effect is strongest closest to the horizon, as the light must pass through more of the atmosphere than it would directly overhead.
