The Moon When The Wolves Run Together will be 100% full at 2:32 a.m. (EST) on December 2, 2009.
*Depending on the source and geographical location the full moon on December 2, 2009 is called one or more of the following: Full Cold Moon, Snow Moon or Moon When The Wolves Run Together.
Out West
“American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year.”
The December moon is called “vskihyi” in the Cherokee language or “Snow Moon,” according to WWU.
This is Western Washington University’s list of Native American Full Moon names.
Back East
Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Following is the Farmers Almanac’s list of the full Moon names. (See Western Washington University’s list above)
FULL COLD MOON – This is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. This full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes.
The [c.2009-Adobe Moon in the City] poster is available for purchase. The full moon in this poster was photographed in Las Vegas in the 90s. The image was inserted into it’s “frame” with a Photoshop type application. The poster is 24″x36″.