Last fall during an interview I was asked about the naming of Full Moons. I gave the usual answer that they were named by Native Americans hundreds of years ago and reflected what was happening during that specific month. The Full Pink Moon is in April because the first wild flowers were pink. The Harvest Full Moon allowed people to work late into the night pulling their crops. The Full Hunter Moon allowed people to hunt later into the night. The reporter asked if the names could be changed and made to reflect life today. I took that comment to heart and in the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac, we are attempting to add to the naming of the Full Moons. Don’t worry, the traditional names will still stand. In fact each month has a half dozen names currently, we are just interested in coming up with an alternate listing for today.
The contest – how it works: Each month we will solicit names of Full Moons during the first 2 weeks for the succeeding month. A panel of “moon experts” will narrow the list to the top 4 names. The final 2 weeks will allow Americans to vote for their favorite.
We are currently in the process of naming the October Moon. We had 79 suggested names and narrowed it to four of the most popular. Here is the current vote count:
Pumpkin: 925 Votes
Haunting: 676 Votes
Turning Leaves: 444 Votes
Football: 71 Votes
Haunting: 676 Votes
Turning Leaves: 444 Votes
Football: 71 Votes
We will continue to accept votes online through the end of the month. The current names will still stand but we are looking for activities or observations that relate to life today. So, please take a moment to go to our home page and vote. And, then check back in October as we look to name the November Full Moon. In December we will have a Blue Moon on the. 31st. This is a month with 2 Full Moons. How often is “once in a Blue Moon” ……more on that later..
Contest rules are noted on our website. I’d love to have your suggestions each month.
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
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