October Full Moon | Facts, History, Meaning, Festivals & Dates

The October Full Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon, and based on the autumnal equinox, once every three years, it is known as the Harvest Moon.

The October Full Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon because people would go out hunting, slaughtering, and preserving meals to be used during the coming winter months.

This name was mentioned in many instances by the Anglo-Saxons since it coincided with their hunting season. The October Full Moon has some other symbolic names as well, and here are some of them.

Other Names for the October Full Moon

The October Full Moon, apart from its Hunter’s Moon name, is also known as the Harvesting Moon, Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Autumn Moon, Fall Moon, Pumpkin Moon, Dying Moon, Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Freezing Moon, Ice Moon, or Migrating Moon.

The October Full Moon was named the Ice Moon or Cold Moon since temperatures sometimes dropped around this year. Others named it Migrating Moon due to the birds migrating period.

For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, the October Full Moon is known as Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Pink Moon, or Waking Moon.

The Sanguine, Blood and Hunter moon names are all associated with hunting. Ancient Native American tribes such as the Iroquois and the Algonquin would often hunt in this period.

Why is the October Full Moon Called Harvest Moon?

Once every three years, the Full Moon in October is the closest to the autumnal equinox, and this when it is called the Harvest Moon. September’s Full Moon traditionally bears this name more often, though.

The Harvest Full Moon name is given to the closest Full Moon to the September equinox, which denotes the start of fall/autumn. The Moon rises about 50 minutes later every day in a lunar month, which is the time it takes the Moon to travel through all of its phases. However, for a couple of days around the Harvest Moon, the Moon rises less than 50 minutes later than the day before.

This Moon is allowed farmers to work the fields and harvest their crops for a longer period in the evenings.

Festivals Associated With The October Full Moon

The October Full Moon carries great significance throughout many cultures around the globe. In some Asian countries, especially China and Vietnam, the October Full Moon is associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This is a traditional harvest festival, mainly held in China. Some other names for this famous festival include Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, or the Reunion Festival – where the wives visit their parents and then return to celebrate with their husbands and parents.

During this festival, offerings are given to the Moon Goddess known as Chang’ e – which is also the name given to the Chinese lunar missions.

In Korea, the Full Moon in October sometimes coincides with the harvest festival known as Chuseok. During this time, the Koreans leave their cities and return to their traditional hometowns. There, they pay respects to the spirits of their ancestors.

The Buddhists view this Moon as the Pavarana, the end of the Vassa, which is the three-month period of fasting for Buddhist monks tied to the monsoons. This ritual is also known as the Buddhist Lent.

In Laos, the October Full Moon coincides with the Boun Suang Huea – the Boat Racing Festival, while in Sri Lanka, with Vap Poya – followed by the Kathina festival – where people offer gifts to monks. These gifts are often new robes and such the reason for why this Moon is called the Month of Robes.

What Date is the October Full Moon in 2020?

In 2020, the October Full Moon occurs on October 1, and it is known as the Harvest Full Moon, but also on October 31, which bears the name Hunter’s Moon. The Full Moon on October 1 will start at 5:05 pm / 17:05, while the one on October 31 at 9:49 am / 09:49.

What Date is the October Full Moon in 2021?

The Hunter’s Moon – October Full Moon will occur in 2021 on October 20. It will start at 05:57 pm. This year, October will have only one Full Moon, and we won’t see a Harvest Moon in October until 2023.

What Does the October Full Moon Symbolize?

The October Full Moon varies in symbolism, as for some peoples, it represents a period of time when the ancestors are celebrated and honored.

For others, it is a spiritual Full Moon since many fasting rituals occur. One might say that the October Full Moon primarily symbolizes cleansing, but, at the same time, it is a period where hunting usually occurred.

What is the Spiritual Meaning of the October Full Moon?

The October Full Moon’s spiritual meaning is of cleasing, but it may also represent the fighting spirit or the hunting spirit. This was the period when hunting determined who will survive during the harsh winter months that followed. Thus, one can also associate it with survival.

What is the Moon Schedule for 2020?

In 2020 we will have 13 Full Moons, and some of them are Supermoons. Here is the list of when they will occur:

January 10 – 2:21 pm / 14:21 Wolf Moon Lunar Eclipse
February 9 – 2:33 am / 02:33 Full Snow Moon
March 9 – 1:48 pm / 13:48 Super Worm Moon
April 7 – 10:35 pm / 22:35 Super Pink Moon
May 7 – 6:45 am / 06:45 Flower Supermoon
June 5 – 3:12 pm / 15:12 Full Strawberry Moon
July 5 – 12:44 am / 12:44, Full Buck Moon
August 3 – 11:59 am / 11:59 Full Sturgeon Moon
September 2 – 1:22 am / 01:22 Full Corn Moon
October 1 – 5:05 pm / 17:05 Full Harvest Moon
October 31 – 9:49 am / 09:49 Full Hunter’s Moon
November 30 – 4:30 am / 04:30 Full Beaver Moon
December 29 – 10:28 pm / 22:28 Full Cold Moon

What is the Moon Schedule for 2021?

In 2021 we will have only 12 Full Moons, and here is when they will occur:

January 28 – Full Wolf Moon
February 27 – Full Snow moon
March 28 – Full worm moon
April 27 – Full Pink Moon
May 26 – Full Flower Moon
June 24 – Full Strawberry Moon
July 24 – Full Buck Moon
August 22 – Full Sturgeon Moon
September 21 – Full Corn moon
October 20 – Full Hunter’s Moon
November 19 – Full Beaver Moon
December 19 – Full Cold Moon

Did you know?

The October Full Moon in 2020 occurred during the two Japanese Tsukimi – Moon Viewing – festivals. In this tradition, sweet potatoes are offered as gifts, hence the reason for why this Full Moon also bears the name Imomeigetsu – Potato Harvest Moon. This festival is so popular that it sometimes extends to several days after the Full Moon period ends.
At the McDonald’s located in Japan, they sometimes create a new menu based on the Tsukimi festival; naturally, it consists of sweet potatoes.
In the Hebrew Callendar, the October Full Moon sometimes coincides with the start of the Sukkoth holiday, known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of the Ingathering.