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editor   Elizabeth Bissette
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The Native American Lunar Calendar

The Full Wolf Moon (Jan. 3, 8:57 a.m. EST) Named after the hungry wolves who howled during the long, cold winter nights more during this month than any other. In some tribes it was called the Old Moon.

The Snow Moon (Feb. 2, 12:45 a.m. EST) Before global warming, the heaviest snows fell in Feb. so this month was named for it. This Moon was also called the Hungry Moon, because the deep snow made hunting almost impossible.

The Crow Moon (March 3, 6:17 p.m. EST) As the snows melt the cries of crows, sharp as the ice that still covers the ground each morning, fill the air, heralding the end of winter. This year, a total lunar eclipse will occur at the Crow Moon.

The Egg Moon (April 2, 1:15 p.m. EDT) A time of re-birth, Spring, so named for it's symbol, still seen in the tradition of Easter. All is blooming again and plenty returns with shad swimming upstream to spawn.

The Milk or Flower Moon (May 2, 6:09 a.m. EDT) A time of abundance and planting as flowers bloom.

The Blue Moon (May 31, 9:04 p.m. EDT) A Blue Moon is when a full Moon occurs twice in one month and we get one in 2007. Once in a Blue Moon is actually about once every 3 years.

The Strawberry Moon (June 30, 9:49 a.m. EDT)Named for the delicious berries at peak season in this month.

The Thunder Moon (July 29, 8:48 p.m. EDT) The time of year when thunderstorms roar the most.

The Red Moon (Aug. 28, 6:35 a.m. EDT) The Moon often takes on this hue during this month as grain and corn grow. This year a total Lunar Eclipse happens at Moonset.

The Harvest Moon (Sept. 26, 3:45 p.m. EDT) This is always the full Moon closest to the Equinox, the time when the most valuable crops are gathered.

The Hunter's Moon (Oct. 26, 12:52 a.m. EDT) A month of feasting, the time of year when animals, fattened for the winter, were best caught. The cleared fields make the chase easier too, and animals come out to gather food and are more frequntly seen. There will be very high tides at this time in 2007.

The Frost Moon (Nov. 24, 9:30 a.m. EST) Traps were set at this time to catch animals before the swamps froze.

The Long Night Moon (Dec. 23, 2:51 a.m. EST) The name describes teh long winter nights as the Moon lingers above the horizon opposite the low-lying Sun.

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