While January is traditionally the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the heaviest snow usually falls a month later. It’s only natural then, that the name for February’s moon among Native American tribes of the north and east was the Full Snow Moon.
Among the Micmac people of eastern Canada, the driving winds that often accompany February snows led the name Snow-Blinding Moon. Because this month’s typically harsh weather conditions made hunting very difficult, other common names for February’s Moon included the Hunger Moon, Bony Moon, and Little Famine Moon.
To the early American colonists, the optimal time for trapping beaver, fox, and mink, was the dead of winter, when these animals’ coats were at their fullest, so, to them, February’s moon was known as the Trapper’s Moon.
Get all 12 months of full moon names here »
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 1919, 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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Hi Carmen Diaz, no, no relation! Thanks for your note!
Thank U Almanac… for bringing these amazing attractions that endure forever in our minds & visions that we can see & feel closely to without being out there on the view !!!.. So wonderful…*****
I love my Farmer’s Almanac. Give me many hours of useful information.
Susan Higgins, daughter of David and Vera? Moon’ faces are peculiar characters. They can describe many things. Indians still follow the moon to personalize their instincts. Abundant Life and Prosperity can depend from a moon reading. No joke!
I live here in Abbeville,SC a place where there is very little snow,sleet,freezing rain or any other precipitation other than rain.When we see a snow flake around here we head to the grocery stores and buy all the bread and milk there is!
For the most part we really have great weather but the school children would really like to have a few or at least one “snow day”!!!
[…] less, its position in the calendar. Next Monday’s full moon is no exception, according to the Farmers’ Almanac — it’s usually known as the Full Snow […]
Native Americans really had a close affiliation with the moon and its phases. I enjoy these reports each month on the names given to the full moon for that month by various Indian tribes.
Hi Valerie, Check out our winter forecast here (and the weather map with your zone) http://farmersalmanac.com/weather-outlook/2016-winter-forecast/ You can also keep track of what we’re forecasting here (which is the same information that’s in your 2016 Almanac): http://farmersalmanac.com/long-range-weather-forecast/south-central-us/
Will southern ,miss, get snow this year 2016
This is exactly right on point
THAT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW, THE VIDEO COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN DUBUQUE, IA ON 2-1-2015. I THINK OUR TOTAL WAS 12.4 INCHES
History does repeat itself … weather-wise! Be careful everyone and have fun shoveling!
Interesting but the coming four full blood moon tetrads are much more interesting.
Farmers used the month of Feb. to get farm equipment in top shape for spring. Not much else could be done on the farms except prepare for the coming farming season, and the ladies would quilt, sew and mend clothes for all the family. Heard these stories and others about life on the farms as I was growing up.
Gee…the Full Snow Moon in 1940 (Valentine’s Day Blizzard) …I guess we haven’t created sufficient CO2 to preclude the repeat Full Snow Moon (Valentine’s Day Blizzard) of 2014…Gee!
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