April ‘24 Full Moon 🌕 (PINK)

April Full Pink Moon 🌕 - April 23, 2024

HISTORY & CULTURAL BELIEFS

April’s Full Moon 🌕 is widely known as the Full Pink Moon (it doesn’t actually turn pink).

The Pink Full Moon’s name comes from the abundance of moss phlox. Phlox is a common little pink flower that typically begins to spread across the ground in early spring.

This creeping phlox is not the only thing that begins blooming during the “Pink Full Moon”. In many Native American tribes, April’s 🌕 is associated with the bustling life and vibrant growth of spring.

Sioux tribe, named this 🌕 after the sprouting of red grass.

Comanche tribe called it the “New Spring Moon”.

Tlingit and Sioux tribes referred to it as the “Budding Moon”, after the new plants that begin to bud and sprout during spring.

Cherokee tribe called it the “Flower Moon” and celebrated it for the growth of useful medicinal plants and magical herbs.

At the same time, April is a time when rivers and streams begin to fully thaw.

Shoshone tribe named April’s 🌕 the “Full Melting Moon”.

Arapaho tribe called it the Moon “Where Ice Breaks in the River”. AKA as the “Fish Moon”because of the fish that would begin to swim upstream during this time.

Cherokees believed flowing water 💦 was under the control of a spirit called the “Long Man”, and would perform rituals to honour him during the Full Pink Moon.🌕

I.E. “Knee Deep Dance”, its based off the movements of the Water Frog.

Assiniboine tribe called April’s 🌕 the “Frog Moon”.Water is not the only thing that starts to flow during the Pink 🌕 - maple sap begins to flow in earnest, marking the true beginning of the incredibly important sugar-making season.

Abenaki tribes called April’s 🌕 the “Sugar Maker Moon”.

Ojibwe called it the “Sugarbush Moon”. 🌕

They would journey north to their spring camps to tap maple syrup and engage in spear fishing.

Maple syrup was integral to Ojibwe culture.

It was a crucial method of seasoning their foods. Plus, it symbolized harmony within the community and with the forces of nature around them.

The Full Pink Moon holds religious significance in other cultures.

I.E. 👇

Islamic communities around the world, celebrate April’s 🌕 as “Bara’at Night” (AKA the “Night of Innocence”).

Muslims offer prayers, ask God to absolve dead ancestors of their sins. They prepare sweet desserts such as halwa or zarda. They give the sweet desserts to children, needy people, and other members of the community.

Christians call it the “Paschal 🌕”; it’s associated with Easter. They celebrate the first Sunday after April’s 🌕 as Easter Sunday.

Inquiry 🧐

It’s possible the reason why the Easter Bunny brings coloured eggs is because April’s 🌕 is AKA as the “Egg 🌕” (birds such as geese begin mating and lay eggs in spring).