As you celebrate the end of the a decade, and ring in the new year, take a moment to glance your eyes skyward towards the moon. It will be full for the second time this month, making it a blue moon. I grew up thinking blue moons were rare, probably because my mom used the phrase, “Once in a blue moon,” when describing the possibility that she would try downhill skiing. I’ve noticed that they seem to come around every few years; surely she should have made it out on the ski hill by now.
In fact, a blue moon (by modern definition two full moons in one month) occurs about once every 2.7 years. The next one occurs in August 2012. Alternatively, the farmer’s almanac defines a blue moon as “an extra full moon that occurred in a season; one season was normally three full moons.” Traditional folklore gave each moon a name according to its time of year. A moon that came early had no folk name – and was called a blue moon – bringing the correct seasonal timings for future moons.
Even though the rarity of blue moons is dubious, it’s a great excuse to go outside after dark in the winter. So bundle up, and make a wish. Because the next time a blue moon occurs on New Years Eve your kids might just be out of the house (December 31, 2028).
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