Lots of Moons: What is a “Christmas Moon”?

25 December 2014

The Short Answer (TSA)

First, Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays to all who celebrate special holidays during this season of the year. And, of course, a very Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate the Christmas holiday.

I wish I could say we had a Christmas full moon coming up or, at least, one that had just past. Unfortunately, we’re not even close. So, technically, we have no Christmas full moon this year. The odds of having a full moon on Christmas Day are about 1 in 59. The chances of having a full moon on Christmas Eve are about the same.

With these rather long odds, we really are in luck because, if you live in North America, there will be a full moon on Christmas Day in the morning hours just around, or after, sunrise next Christmas -- in 2015. I say, “around or after” because the time zones changes around the world have the effect of making any full moon fall at different times in different places.

In some places around the world, the 2015 full moon won’t fall on December 25th. So, if you are anywhere other than North America, you need to check next year’s calendar to see if you live or will be in one of those locations where the full moon falls on December 25th.

What is the significance of a full moon on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve?

None.

There are no long-standing traditions or ideas associated with any particular lunar event on, or around, Christmas.

Well, . . . except one.

Have you ever seen a picture of the full moon with the silhouette of Santa in his sleigh drawn by eight reindeer? When people ask about the full moon on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, they often refer to the view of Santa’s silhouette against the full moon.

Are these celebrants expecting to use the full moon as a sort of Santa tracker or Santa alarm? Will the bright full moon in the sky “tip off” viewers to the progress of Santa’s flight through the dark sky?

I’d never thought of the full moon as a sort of natural Santa radar – one that might compromise the jolly old elf’s stealth as he made his Christmas deliveries. But who knows.

Considering that this blog is meant for readers of all ages, an in depth discussion of Santa, his flight, and the possibility of actually seeing the old elf might bring up a few “delicate” questions that are best left for another time.

Again, Happy Holidays! And a “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”