The 2009 Lunar Calendar

Why a lunar calendar

Tides are related to the moon's relative position to the sun and the earth, and inter-tidal environments are best visited on the three days either side of a new or full moon. Our moon calendars therefore help people plan when to visit the coastline.

Our lunar calendars also follow an ancient tradition, since the earliest calendars of most civilisations were based on the phases of the moon and many cultures still use the moon calendar to establish dates of religious holidays. The arrival of the new moon and its completion at the full moon are greeted in many parts of the world as a joyful event and therefore many festivals are linked to these occasions.

The moon affects water, tides, our bodily fluids and the sap in plants, and for centuries planting and harvesting have been guided by the moon. The moon has also long been associated with women, magic and fertility.

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Lunar Calendars and the Moon

This section, researched and written by Catherine Lucktaylor, explores the history of moon calendars, looks at the different phases of the moon, begins an overview of other lunar festivals and also looks at the educational value of celebrating multicultural festivals from an anti-racist perspective.

History of Lunar Calendars

The earliest calendars were based on the phases of the moon. The oldest moon calendar still in use has been used in China since 2698 B.C.E.

The moon affects water, the tides, our bodily fluids and the sap in plants.

The arrival of the new moon and its completion at the full moon are greeted in many parts of the world as a festive occasion and therefore many festivals are linked to these occasions. The lunar month is the interval between two new moons, an average of 29 days, 12 hours, 4 minutes and 2.98 seconds.

Ancient Chinese and Jewish priest-astronomers adopted a system of alternating 29 or 30 days in each month. The Chinese priest-astronomer decided that a month would begin with the sunrise immediately before a new moon. The Hindus chose to begin a month with the full moon. The Hebrew people began a month at the first sighting of the crescent moon. The Muslims are instructed by the Qur'an to begin a month from the time a new moon could be seen by the naked eye.

Most ancient civilisations based their calendars on a lunar cycle to begin with. Over time some cultures abandoned lunar calendars in favour of solar calendars or combined the two often using them for different purposes. Many people like the Hindus now use the moon calendar to establish dates of religious holidays and the Gregorian calendar for official and civil purposes.

Ancient Egyptian priests called the moon the "Mother of the Universe" and Upper Egypt used to be Khemennu which means "Land of the Moon". However it was the ancient Egyptians who first adopted the 365 day solar year calendar abandoning the lunar calendar. Julius Caesar visited Egypt in 47 B.C.E. and was inspired to reform the Roman calendar. On his return Caesar sought the advise of the Greek-Egyptian astronomer Sosigenes. Caesar introduced a 365 day year intercalated by a leap-year day every fourth year.

The use of the new Gregorian calendar based on the solar year spread around the world quickly because the European nations imposed it upon all their colonies.

The Poetic Moon

Many indigenous people of North America had beautiful and evocative names for each of the full moons throughout the year.

January	Wolf Moon	Algonquin
February	Moon when the coyotes are frightened	Tewa
March	Lizard Moon	San Huan
April	Moon of grass appearing	Lakota Sioux
May	Corn-planting moon	Taos
June	Flower Moon	San Ildefonso
July	Ripe Moon	San Juan
August	Moon when cherries turn black	Lakota Sioux
September	Salmon spawning time	Nez Perce
October	Hunters Moon	Algonquin
November	Freezing Moon	Cheyenne
December	Her winter houses moon	Wisham

Ancient Moon & Moon Myths

Earliest concepts of periodicity came from the observation of the moon and its correlation to the menstrual cycle and tidal change. Most ancient civilisations based their calendars on the lunar cycle. In many ancient cultures pregnancy was believed to be caused by the moon and in France le moment de la lune is the name given to menstruation.

The moon affects water, tides, our bodily fluids and the sap in plants and for centuries planting and harvesting has been guided by the moon.

The moon's dominance over cycles of the oceans was observed by all early civilisations and the presence of the moon in water was a source of magic for both good and evil. In India there is a cure for nervous disorders which involves drinking water, that has reflected the light of the full moon, from a silver bowl. In many parts of India the moon is thought to be the abode of souls, its waxing and waning due to the regular influx of the departed, whose spirits re-entered the world through rainfall.

The moon has long been associated with women, magic and fertility. Egyptian priests called the moon the 'Mother of the Universe' and Upper Egypt used to be known as Khemennu 'Land of the Moon.' For many ancient cultures the moon goddess was also the creator. Polynesians called their creator Hina which means 'Moon'. She was the first woman and every woman is a wahine, made in the image of Hina.

There are many myths, symbols and goddesses connected with the moon. The Greek goddess Callisto was originally associated with the moon goddess Artemis, of the hunt. She is linked with Selene, an older moon goddess and Hecate goddess of magic and the dark moon. Artemis was later identified with the Roman Diana.

Callisto attracted the attention of Zeus and bore him a son, Arcas. Zeus's jealous wife, Hera, turned Callisto into a bear, which Arcas killed. Zeus transported Callisto into the constellation called the Great Bear.

Frogs and toads commonly represent the moon in early myths from the Americas. The Maidu tribe of California, recount the tale of Frog-woman, who swallowed the violent sun-woman but was burst open by the fierce heat. Sun-woman took pity on her and made her whole again.

The snail's habit of hiding in and emerging from its shell made it a propitious symbol of the moon's retreat and renewal. One story from the Pacific Islands of Micronesia describes how the creator god found two snails and used one to make the moon and the other the sun.

The hare is a widespread lunar symbol and is renowned for its fertility and it is said it has the power to change shape. The Phoenician goddess Astarte's earthly sign was a hare and in the 1st century AD English queen Boadicea carried its image on her banners. In India the hare's outline is said to be visible in the full moon.

Phases of the Moon | Celebrating Multicultural Festivals

Examples of Lunar Festivals | Links to other Sites | Home