~ LiL' aBBey'S aTTiC - aRT DoLLS By TRaCi PayNTeR ~

Toil, Toil, Boil, and Bubble...

The Harvest Moon...

Last Saturday was the Harvest Moon in its largest form - closest to our planet in many years, and will not be this close again for another 8 - hope you got to enjoy like my family and I did.

We got a small fire going in our fire pit, had some Pumpkin Ale Beer (seasonal - LOVE IT!) and sat and watched it travel right above us (or so it seemed!) from east to west - we had an awesome time!

I found a few interesting tid-bits on the Harvest Moon for you to enjoy!

The photo below is my own - took it right above my head! 

6 Moon Superstitions

• An old Chinese superstition suggests that your ears may fall off if you point to a moon.

• It’s dangerous to sleep with the moon shining on your face

• Seeing a new moon for the first time on a Monday is lucky

• Go outside with an empty purse or wallet, under a full moon, say “full up” nine times and within a few days you will come into money

• A red moon is the sign of war

• If the first time you see a new moon in a month is by looking over your right shoulder it is lucky

• If you rub an injury on a horse with silver during the light of a full moon then it will recover

Myths and meanings of the Harvest Moon

In the Northern Hemisphere tonight there will be a Harvest Moon. This is the full moon that happens to be closest to the autumn equinox and is special as the time difference between moonrise and successive evenings is shorter than usual.

The Harvest Moon tends to be large and more colourful than other moons of the year. This is because of the tilt of the earth and reflections from the atmosphere.

The Harvest Moon gets its name from the extra light it gives farmers – which mean in times before electricity that they had even longer to harvest their crops. The Harvest Moon, however, has other names. It’s known often as the Wine Moon as it is through this is when grapes are plump and ready for collecting. It’s called the Singing Moon as the festivals held to mark it would involve signing – it is the last full moon before Halloween. The moon has been called the Elk Call Moon too. The native American tribes may call a Harvest Moon that rises in September the Full Corn Moon and some European people may refer to it as the Gypsy Moon. The Chinese call the moon the Chrysanthemum Moon because of the illusion of the colour change.

The Celts would use the Harvest Moon to mark the time before Samhain and considered it a blessing. It would be a time of crop collection but also of large parties; signing, dancing and drinking.

The Norse noted that the Harvest Moon was often the first full moon after the first frost of the winter seasons. They considered it to be the most powerful moon of the year and associated with the trickster god Loki.

Batty Fact

One well-recognized illustrations of a full moon is that of back-lit bats flying in a fury, with a vampire’s taste for blood, seeking whom they may devour.

In a bit of irony, bats are actually less active during the full moon. Many of the little flying rodents are actually shut-ins on nights when the moon is at its brightest, avoiding predators that might see them easier on those well-lit nights.

We can’t help but feel betrayed now, thinking back to that old Scooby-Doo intro, which may not have been a full moon night but certainly looked it.

…As the Romans Do

One of the earliest references to a werewolf turning under a full moon actually comes from a Roman emperor.

In the 1st Century, Petronius wrote one piece of literature known as the Satyricon. Briefly, we read of a transformation among these historical pages in what is one of the earliest references to a werewolf:

“He was a soldier, and as brave as the very devil. We set out about cock-crow, the moon was shining as bright as midday, and came to where the tombstones are. My man stepped aside amongst them, but I sat down, singing, and commenced to count them up. When I looked around for my companion, he had stripped himself and piled his clothes by the side of the road. My heart was in my mouth, and I sat there while he pissed a ring around them and was suddenly turned into a wolf!”

We’re All A Bit Loony Here

Travelling back to Rome for a moment, the word for lunatic actually comes from the Latin luna, which means moon.

This is due to the belief that the full moon has a strange effect human behavior, causing people to become rude, more likely to steal, or even downright murderous.

Many scientists are skeptical that “Moon Madness” is indeed a “thing,” but the notion still holds to this day.

Something Witchy This Way Comes…

The moon can be a sort of guide for witches and other spellcasters. Knowing when spells will have the most effect based on which phase the moon is in, is often crucial to their success.

A waning moon, for instance, would signify a good time to cast banishing spells against negative aspects of life. A full moon is good for divining or looking for successful ventures.

A Wolf to Swallow the Moon

The Slavic people understood the lunar eclipse to be the work of the Varcolac. Those of you who have read our books (Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters series, particularly Book 1: The Varcolac’s Diary), or have attended our presentations at conventions or shows will be familiar with the wolfish-vampire-monster, but for those who aren’t, the varcolac was a sort of wolf-demon that would rise up to swallow the moon bits at a time (think “phases of the moon”).

The varcolac was a beast to be feared. In this culture there was no “man in the moon”, but rather the heavenly body was a constant reminder that monsters were real and they were great and fearsome enough to swallow the moon.

In all its beauty and influence on earthly matters, the moon has been both feared and worshipped throughout the centuries.

Shine on Harvest Moon

by

Ada Jones and Billy Murray

First verse

The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,

For the moon refused to shine.

Couple sitting underneath a willow tree,

For love they did pine.

Little maid was kinda 'fraid of darkness

So she said, "I guess I'll go."

Boy began to sigh, looked up at the sky,

And told the moon his little tale of woe

Chorus

Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon

Up in the sky;

I ain't had no lovin'

Since April, January, June or July.

's no time, ain't no time to stay

Outdoors and spoon;

So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,

For me and my gal.

Note: The months in the chorus have been sung in different orders.

Second verse

I can't see why a boy should sigh when by his side

Is the girl he loves so true,

All he has to say is: "Won't you be my bride,

For I love you?

I can't see why I'm telling you this secret,

When I know that you can guess."

Harvest moon will smile,

Shine on all the while,

If the little girl should answer "yes."