The first full moon after the Summer Solstice is known as the Strawberry Moon.
In ancient times, each full moon of every month had a name, usually associated with astronomical events, harvests, or other seasonal connections, and not relating to the actual color of the moon. The first full moon following the Summer Solstice, and the last full moon prior to the Autumnal Equinox, are known as Strawberry Moon, signifying the start and end of the strawberry picking season.
The full moon of tonight, June 24, would therefore be a Strawberry Moon.
Photography and Travel, specifically adventure travel and backpacking in remote North America, give me an excuse to stay outside. If kayaks, bikes, backpacks, Jeeps, archeology, geology and wildlife can be included, all the better. Having spent my life working in the fashion and photography industries, I love the unusual, the spectacular, and the beautiful. God has given us a wonderful world in which to live, and I try to open others’ eyes to its wonders. I have shared nearly 50 years of this indescribable wonder with my wife, Jodie, and we go everywhere together. I hope you will share some of our journey with us.
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6 thoughts on “Strawberry Moon”
This is interesting. I’d always assumed the name was related to the color of the moon, because when I first heard the name ‘strawberry moon,’ it seemed disconnected from the fruit’s season. Our biggest strawberry farm began picking in January this year, then paused for the freeze, before starting up again at the end of February. The big Strawberry Festival in Pasadena (TX) marks what’s essentially the end of the season, in mid-May.
In the Americas, the name “Strawberry Moon” is attributed to the Indigenous People of ancient times, in that is was the signal to begin gathering wild fruit, namely wild strawberries. It has other names in other parts of the world, it is known as “Rose Moon,” “Hot Moon,” even “Mead Moon.” The reference to the August full moon as a “Strawberry Moon” has fallen out of use in most places.
Makes sense. In fact, we could call it the Dewberry Moon and be back on track with the traditional timing. Just last weekend, I saw a few dewberries still on the bushes, although the birds seem to have made short work of them.
I really thought about doing a little PS magic to make it pink, but people tend to see something in print and take it as fact without further reading for clarification, so I just left it as photographed.
texasflashdude 
This is interesting. I’d always assumed the name was related to the color of the moon, because when I first heard the name ‘strawberry moon,’ it seemed disconnected from the fruit’s season. Our biggest strawberry farm began picking in January this year, then paused for the freeze, before starting up again at the end of February. The big Strawberry Festival in Pasadena (TX) marks what’s essentially the end of the season, in mid-May.
In the Americas, the name “Strawberry Moon” is attributed to the Indigenous People of ancient times, in that is was the signal to begin gathering wild fruit, namely wild strawberries. It has other names in other parts of the world, it is known as “Rose Moon,” “Hot Moon,” even “Mead Moon.” The reference to the August full moon as a “Strawberry Moon” has fallen out of use in most places.
Makes sense. In fact, we could call it the Dewberry Moon and be back on track with the traditional timing. Just last weekend, I saw a few dewberries still on the bushes, although the birds seem to have made short work of them.
No matter what you call it, it was really bright, and I could have gathered dewberries at midnight. Thanks for the comments.
A little pinker, and that moon could’ve been one big round strawberry.
I really thought about doing a little PS magic to make it pink, but people tend to see something in print and take it as fact without further reading for clarification, so I just left it as photographed.