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

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The next full moon in May 2023 will occur on Friday, May 05 at 13:34 Eastern Standard Time (EST). This full moon in the earth’s northern hemisphere is known as Flower 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 Beaver Moon that will occur on Saturday, May 06 at 04:34 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Not to mention, there will also be a penumbral lunar eclipse coinciding with the May month’s Full Moon that will be completely visible over most of North and South America, seen rising over Northwest North America, and the Pacific Ocean, and setting over Africa, and Europe.

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 May 2023 – Flower Moon in Northern Hemisphere

In the northern hemisphere, the full moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. WHY? Because this month’s full moon indicates the flowers that usually bloom in this month. According to the timeanddate, there is a myriad of wildflowers that bloom in May in the Northern Hemisphere, where these traditional Full Moon names originated.

For example, many types of anemones, wild garlic, indigo, bluebells, lupine, sundrops, and violets, to name just a few. It is no wonder that the colorful displays these flowers create in nature have inspired people to name this time after them.

Other Cultural Full Moon Names for May 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, the full moon in May is known as Vaishakha Purnima. The full moon in Hindi is known as Purnima.
English Medival people call it a Hare Moon.
Chinese people call the full moon in May a Dragon Moon.
Dakotah people call it the Moon When Leaves Are Green.
Cherokee tribe people call it the Planting Moon.
Colonial American People call it the Milk Moon.
Choctaw tribe people call it the Panther 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 May 2023 – Beaver Moon in Southern Hemisphere

may-full-beaver-moon-southern-hemisphere — Image Source: Conscious Remainder

In the southern hemisphere, a full moon in the month of May is known as Beaver Moon. WHY? Because during this time of the year, these semiaquatic rodents (Beavers) vigorously start building their dams of wood and mud for the forthcoming winter season.

In other words, as the temperature decreases in the earth’s southern areas, harvesting also slows down. As a result, aminals (Beavers) start to prepare everything before the ice set in. I hope now you know the obvious reason behind it.

Other Cultural Full Moon Names for May 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, this is not the case with the people living in the southern hemisphere.

Not to mention, 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, as a result of 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 May is known as FROST MOON.

And, if there is a second full moon in May, it is known as FIRE 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 May 2023?

The next full moon in May 2023 will occur on Friday, May 05 at 13:34 Eastern Standard Time (EST). It will be known as the Flower Moon. Okay, for northerners, it will be a Flower Moon. But, for the Southerner, it will be a Beaver Moon.

Therefore, for Southerners, it will occur on Saturday, May 06 at 04:34 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). In addition, on this day, the moon will be in Scorpio. At last, I wish you good luck with this epic moon gazing.

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