Full Moon Superstitions: 10 Beliefs and Their Meaning

Ah, the Moon and all its intriguing mysteries! When it shines full and round, it has inspired more beliefs, stories and legends than any other star. Werewolves, shining laundry, hair that grows back faster: every culture has its own.

Here are the full moon superstitions handed down through the ages. Follow the cycles with our Moon calendar and see which ones ring true for you.

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10 full moon superstitions

Some are frightening, others practical; all of them have crossed the centuries:

Others are rooted in family traditions: never point at the full moon, an old European belief says, or you will offend it; and a baby born under a full moon is said to be blessed with luck.

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Full moon rituals and customs

The full moon is also the night of small rituals, handed down or reinvented:

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What does a full moon do spiritually?

In many spiritual traditions, the full moon holds a profound meaning:

• Completion: it marks the culmination of a cycle, when intentions and projects reach their peak.
• Amplified energy: it strengthens spiritual and emotional energy, an auspicious time for meditation, manifestation and ritual.
• Intuition: it sharpens intuition and mental clarity, a time to listen to your inner voice.
• Release: it favors letting go of what no longer serves you and freeing yourself from limiting patterns.

Many of the world’s great festivals follow it: Vesak, which celebrates the Buddha on the full moon of May; the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, when families gather to admire the Moon and share mooncakes; Purnima, the full moon day that Hindus mark with prayer and offerings. Whether these beliefs are magical or simply poetic, it is up to you to decide which ones speak to you.

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Full moon names and wonders

Each full moon carries a traditional name, from Native American, European and colonial folklore, inspired by the season:

• The Wolf Moon (January), when wolves howl in the winter night.
• The Pink Moon (April), named after the spring flowers.
• The Harvest Moon (September), which lit up the fields during the harvest.
• The Cold Moon (December), at the heart of winter.

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth: it appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter. And when it rises on the horizon, the full moon always seems bigger than high in the sky: the “Moon illusion”, which has fueled legends for centuries.

Animals too seem to feel it: under the bright light, nocturnal creatures change their habits, prey hide and predators wait.

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