When is the Next Full Moon in April 2023? (A Complete Guide)

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The next full moon in April 2023 will occur on Thursday, April 06 at 00:34 Eastern Standard Time (EST). This full moon in the earth’s northern hemisphere is known as a Pink Moon.

On the flip side, for the people living in the southern hemisphere: let’s say for Australian people, they call this full moon a Hunter’s Moon that will occur on Thursday, April 06 at 15:34 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Why Different Full Moon Names in Different Hemispheres?

Just because there is approx 6 months of seasonal difference between the northern and southern hemispheres, people living above and below the equator use different full moon names.

summer-and-winter-solstice-in-northern-and-southern-hemisphere — When there is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, there is the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Obviously, now you would be thinking that what could be the reason behind the seasonal difference between the two hemispheres?

Well, just because the earth has an axial tilt of 23.4 degrees, there is a seasonal mismatch between the southern and the northern hemisphere. See the above image for a proper understanding.

However, If you wanna know more about the earth’s tilt and how it affects the seasons on the earth, you can check this article. I can bet you will love this piece of article.

Different Full Moon Names in Northern Hemisphere

For millennia, ancient humans have used different seasons as a guide to track the different full moons. Or, you can say for millennia, humans have used the full moons to track the changing season. However, seasons are not the only possible way to define different full moon names.

What I mean is that the names given to the various full moons are based on a couple of different sources. Out of all, the most famous and widely acknowledged full moon names come from the tribes of Native American culture.

As per the legends, to keep track of changing seasons, the Algonquin tribal people used to follow the lunar calendar rather than following the solar calendar.

These full moon names were later adopted by Colonial Americans and European settlers. And, with time, these names were finally integrated with the modern (Georgian calendar) calendar.

Editor’s Choice: Full Moon Calendar 2023 (Dates & Names – Northern Hemisphere)

Full Moon in April 2023 – Pink Moon in Northern Hemisphere

In the northern hemisphere, the full moon in April is known as the Full Pink Moon or Pink Moon. WHY? Because it coincides with springtime blooms in the northern hemisphere. Just to mention, the word Pink Moon has nothing to do with the color of the moon.

Additionally, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this month’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.”

Other Cultural Full Moon Names for April in Northern Hemisphere

Well, if you go somewhere away from your native place, you will see that local indigenous people have their own indigenous full moon names. For example:

In Indian Culture, this month’s full moon is known as Chaitra Purnima. Not to mention, the full moon in Hindi is known as Purnima.
English Medival people call it a Seed moon.
Chinese people call it a Peony Moon.
Cherokee tribe people call it the Flower Moon.
Dakotah people call it the Moon When Geese Return in Scattered Formation.
Colonial American People call it the Planter’s Moon.
Choctaw tribe people call it the Wildcat Moon, etc.

Different Full Moon Names in Southern Hemisphere

You would be baffled to know that the full moon names used in the southern hemisphere are the same as the northern hemisphere, just the seasonal difference. Wanna know why???

Well, because most of the people living in the southern hemisphere (let’s say Australia or New Zealand) are none other than European settlers.

In other words, one can say that European settlers, at first, integrated the native American full moon names into their modern Georgian calendar. And, later, many of these full moon names went with them to new places around the world.

Editor’s Choice: Full Moon Calendar 2023 (Dates & Names – Southern Hemisphere)

Full Moon in April 2023 – Hunter’s Moon in Southern Hemisphere

In the southern hemisphere, the full moon in April is known as the Full Hunter’s Moon or Hunter’s Moon. WHY? Because it is generally the time to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

In other words, this is the month when the game is fattened in the southern hemisphere. And for that, tribal people start hunting and preserving meat for the winter season. Hence, known as the hunter’s moon.

Other Cultural Full Moon Names for April in Southern Hemisphere

Well, if you go somewhere away from your native place, you will see that local indigenous people have their own indigenous full moon names. Sadly, that is not the case with the people living in the southern hemisphere.

For several days, I have been trying to get some detail regarding the full moon naming criteria for the Earth’s southern areas. But, I did not find any single piece of work related to that.

However, I did find one resource where it has been mentioned that the native people of the southern hemisphere (Māori People of New Zealand) didn’t assign a name to only the Full Moon phase of each month. Every night of the Moon had a name.

Therefore, due to these elaborated naming conditions, many in the Southern Hemisphere rely on European-inspired Full Moon Names.

Latest Update

Just to let you know, one of my friends Retha Potgieter recently told me about the update on Full moon names in South Africa. Since September 2020, South Africa have their own unique full moon names. As per the Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH), in South Africa, the full moon in April is known as DIAMOND MOON.

And, if there is a second full moon in this month, it is known as GOLD MOON. The Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH) is a non-profit company working to protect South Africa’s astronomical heritage.

The Centre’s mission is to record, preserve, and disseminate information about South Africa’s tangible and intangible astronomical heritage. I would request you to visit this website at least once. They are doing nice work.

When is the Next Full Moon in April 2023?

The next full moon in April 2023 will occur on Thursday, April 06 at 00:34 Eastern Standard Time (EST). This full moon in the earth’s northern hemisphere is known as a Pink Moon. Okay, for northerners, it will be a Pink Moon. But, for the southerner, it will be a Hunter’s Moon.

Therefore, for southerners, it will occur on Thursday, April 06 at 15:34 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). In addition, on this day, the moon will be in Libra. At last, I wish you good luck with this epic moon gazing.

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