The full moon is a familiar sight, but each one carries a unique name steeped in history and folklore. The Strawberry Moon is the common name given to the full moon that appears in June, often marking the beginning of the summer season. This particular name is not rooted in any astronomical phenomenon or visual characteristic of the moon itself. Instead, it serves as a natural calendar, linking the lunar cycle to seasonal changes on Earth.
Astronomical Definition and Timing
The Strawberry Moon is the full moon that occurs during the month of June, typically the last full moon of spring or the first of summer. Astronomically, a full moon happens when the Earth is positioned roughly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon’s face to be fully illuminated from our perspective. Because a full moon is always opposite the Sun in the sky, the June full moon occurs close to the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This close timing dictates the moon’s trajectory across the night sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June full moon follows a low, flat path near the horizon, mirroring the low arc that the Sun takes during the winter solstice. The low altitude means the moon spends more time skimming the dense layers of our atmosphere.
The Origin of the Name
The name “Strawberry Moon” is tied to a traditional system for marking the seasons, not the moon’s color or appearance. The name originated from various Native American tribes, most notably the Algonquin people who inhabited the northeastern regions of North America. For these tribes, the appearance of the June full moon signaled the precise time to begin harvesting the short season of ripe wild strawberries. Other Native American tribes had similar names reflecting the abundance of early summer, such as the Blooming Moon or the Green Corn Moon.
The June full moon was also given distinct names across Europe. There, it was often called the Rose Moon, marking the blooming of roses, or the Mead Moon, a reference to the time when the ingredients for mead were gathered. The European name Honey Moon is also frequently associated with the June full moon. This may be tied to the tradition of June being a popular month for weddings, which then led to the term “honeymoon.”
Visual Perception and Atmospheric Effects
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon does not inherently possess a pink or red color. However, the Moon can often appear with a striking golden, orange, or even reddish hue when it is near the horizon. This altered appearance is not unique to the June full moon but is a common optical effect resulting from atmospheric scattering.
When the moon is low in the sky, its light must travel through a greater amount of Earth’s atmosphere to reach our eyes. The air molecules and dust particles in the atmosphere scatter shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and violet, more effectively than longer wavelengths. This process allows the longer, warmer wavelengths—red, orange, and yellow—to pass through more directly. Because the June full moon’s path is naturally low on the horizon, this filtering effect is maximized, giving it a rich, warm color that is often mistaken as the inspiration for its name.