What Is a Blue Moon?

Songs and stories abound about the blue moon and its seemingly mystical aura. What some may not realize is that a blue moon is an actual moon cycle that does occasionally happen.

Cycles of the moon

The moon goes through cycles that range from a new moon to a full moon. A new moon is when the night sky is black and moonless. The moon also waxes and wanes during its cycles. When it is waxing it is growing into a full moon, and it appears to get smaller while waning until it returns to a new moon.

Moon days

The moon is used by many cultures to keep track of the year. Lunar calendars go by moon cycles to keep track of the time of year. Using a calendar allows tracking of days and seasons of the year assisting with growing and harvesting plants.

Two moon month

Most modern calendars have twelve months and 365 days a year, except for leap year when there are 366 days. Each month has a full moon, but on occasion there is an extra full moon in one month. When there are two full moons in a month, the second full moon is called a blue moon.

Lucky thirteen

There is another explanation of a blue moon that goes further back in time. Most years have twelve full moons. When a year has thirteen full moons, the extra full moon in a season is traditionally called a blue moon.

The blue moon always has a sense of mystery. It is beautiful in the night sky, and it brings light in the dark. Although it is an actual moon cycle, the romantic notion of it controlling the heart and mind is the best definition of all.