The Full Moon of Autumn

The full moon of autumn is marked in different ways in different cultures. This year, it is on October 3/4

Exact timings
2009 Oct 4 06:11 GMT/UTC
Sun

Re: The Full Moon of Autumn-Harvest Moon-Native American

In America, First Nations and Native Americans marked time by the sun and the moon, a moon being a month, with the Full Moon being the most important night/day of each month. This is similar to the Lunar Calendar used by many Asian cultures in the past and present. Feast Days (festivals) were held at each Full Moon around North America, the type of celebration led by the customs of the Indigenous Nation involved.
However, Autumn seems nearly always to have been the time of THREE Native Nations thanksgivings - celebrations of 1) the Green Corn Moon, 2) the Harvest Moon, and 3) the Hunters Moon. Thus, there were three thanksgiving feast days (holidays) every fall before the “white men” came to the Western Hemisphere. The whites had their own commemorative festivals in The New World and sometimes there was a joining of Native Americans and Whites.

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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn- China- Moon Festival

The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.
The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.
The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.
The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky.
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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn- China- Moon Festival

With the Chinese, the Harvest Festival of thanksgiving began as moon worship in the Xia and the Shang Dynasty back to 2000 BC, then the Zhou and the Tang Dynasties (through 907 AD). The moon worship part dropped out in the Southern Song Dynasty in 1127, when people sent moon shaped cakes to relatives as as sign of wishing a family reunion. During the Ming and Quing Dynasties through 1911, the celebration was one of a party and wishing relatives the best. There have been dozens of other activities associated with the festival through the centuries.
Additional Asians cultures participate in similar types of moon and harvest festivals, based in their own cultural beliefs and customs. There is a variety of such festivals with different elements added, all across Asia,

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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn-India-Sharad/ Kojagari Poornima

Sharad Purnima, also spelt as Sharat Poornima or Kojagari Purnima, is the Full Moon day in the month of Ashwin. Sharad Purnima 2009 date is October 4. It is celebrated as harvest as the rainy season comes to an end and agriculture will be on peak in many regions of India. Kaumudi Puja or Koumudi Utsav is also celebrated along with Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on Sharat Poornima. Moon God is also called as Kaumudi.
 As per the popular Hindu belief, Lord Krishna has begun his divine Raas Lila with Radha and Gopis on the Sharat Purnima night. On Sharad Purnima day, devotees observe vigil and perform Lakshmi Puja. This day falls on Sharad ritu hence it is called as Sharad Poornima. As per a legend of Sharad Purnima Lakshmi Puja, a King was suffering from financial problems. When his Queen performed the Kojagari Lakshmi vrata, his all problems were ruined out and he ruled his kingdom without any more problems.
Kumar Purnima in Orissa and Sharad Poonam in Gujarat: In Orissa, Sharad Purnima is observed as Kumar Purnima. On Kumar Purnima day, people of Orissa observe Gaja Lakshmi Puja. Generally, this festival is dedicated to Lord Kumar, also known as Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva. In Gujarat, Sharad Purnima is called Sharad Poonam. It is one of the big festivals of Gujarat.
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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn-Bengal, India-Kojagari Poornima

The full moon day after Durga Puja is observed as Lakshmi Puja by Bengalis and it is also referred as Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity and it is believed that on the full moon night she visits the homes of devotees and blesses them with prosperity. Therefore special pujas are held in the evening on the day. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2009 date is October 3.
Unlike in other regions, in Bengal, Goddess Lakshmi is perceived as the daughter of Goddess Durga. Idols of Goddess Lakshmi are installed in many households and in pandals of neighborhood committees. The rituals associated with Lakshmi puja varies locally and is also different for different communities. Elaborate traditional Lakshmi Pujas, which needs the help of a priest or elderly person, are conducted on the day. The pandals which were erected for Durga Puja also conduct the traditional Lakshmi Puja. The long list of puja articles include oil, turmeric, soil from the River Ganga, grains, durba grass, flowers, and a great many other items. Markets are filled with special Lakshmi Puja items and these items are only available mostly during this period. A major event on the day is the drawing of Alpana or Alpona patterns especially that of Goddess Lakshmi’s feet. Special vegetarian dishes – khichuri, naru, narkel bhaja, chirey and taaler phopol – and sweets are made and offered to the goddess along with fresh fruits. In North India, Lakshmi Puja is held during Diwali.

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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn-Buddhism-Vap Poya-Sri Lanka

Even before the birth of Buddhism, Asian ascetics in the ancient times when there were no calendars, made it a practice on full moon days to cease worldly pursuits and engage themselves in religious activities. The Buddha adopted this practice and from this developed the preaching of the Buddhist texts and commentaries (bana) in monasteries and temples on full moon Poya days.

Vap (full moon Poya day in October) The significant events commemorated during this month are: the conclusion of The Buddha's preaching of the Abhidhamma for three months to his mother in the Heavenly realm (devaloka), King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka sending envoys to King Asoka requesting him to send his daughter Arahat Sanghamitta Theri to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana (Order of Nuns).
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Re: The Full Moon of Autumn-Buddhism-Vap Poya-Sri Lanka

Significance of Vap Full Moon Poya

by Premasara Epasinghe

The rainy season commenced three months ago with Esala – ‘Vassana Kalo’. It comes to an end with the Vap Poya. The ‘Katina’ season ushers in the Buddhist calendar with Vap, which is popularly known as ‘Cheevara Masaya’.

This year, Vap Full Moon Poya falls on Saturday, October 3 (today).

Vap Poya marks the offering of the ‘Katina Cheevara’ or new robes to Buddhist monks, who observed ‘Vas’ – Rainy Retreat, beginning from Esala to Vap.

‘Katina’ – ‘Cheevara Pooja’, the noble meritorious deed is considered the most sacred wholesome act a Buddhist can perform. It is known as the Great Eight Merits or ‘Ata Kusal’. The word ‘Katina’ means unbreakable. It is believed that those who participate in ‘Katina’ religious activities obtain much merit and they live a happy life in this world as well as in the other world once they depart.

It was on Vap Full Moon Poya Day that the Buddha visited the heavenly abode of Tavatimsa. In this heavenly abode, He preached ‘Abidhamma’ to the Devas of that celestial plane, which resulted in the elevation of ‘Matru Deva’ (Mother Diety) to attain ‘Sotapanna’ and 80 crores of Devas to various stages of Sainthood. Eventually, He terminated his retreat in order to descend to the city gate of Sankassapura. He informed Arahat Moggallana about his arrival. Moggallana had paid him a visit seven days before.

Vap Poya is of great significance for yet another reason. Throughout our cherished history, Buddhists have celebrated Vap on a grand scale. Temples in Sri Lanka will be filled to capacity. They will be involved in ‘Dana’, ‘Seela’, ‘Bhavana’ and thereby they accumulate merit.

Buddhist history reveals another important landmark which is connected to Vap Full Moon Poya Day; for it was on such a day that the future Buddha, Maitriya Bodhisatva, entered the order with a retinue of 500 followers.

Furthermore, Vap Poya paved the way for the arrival of Sangamitta Theri. The advent of Buddhism took place with the advent of ‘Dhammarajassa Savaka’ Arahat Mahinda Thera. King Devanampiyatissa’s sister-in-law Anula, was very keen to enter the Order of Bhikkunis. Therefore, the King made a request to Emperor Asoka to send Sanghamitta Theri.

It is clear as crystal that Sri Lanka and India had a very cordial diplomatic relationship, even at that time. It was on Vap Poya Full Moon Day that Devanampiyatissa sent Minister Maha Aritta, a close relation of Devanampiyatissa to India, for this mission. This resulted in the arrival of Sangamitta during Unduvap Poya, which is in the month of December. It records the establishment of a ‘Bhikkuni Sasanaya’ in Sri Lanka. Sangamitta brought a Bo–Sapling from the Jayasri Maha Bodhiya to Sri Lanka.

The Great King Devanapiyatissa, who propagated Buddhism, questioned Arahat Mahinda whether Buddhism was firmly rooted in Sri Lanka. Arahat Mahinda stated; “Dear King, until such time a person born and bred in Sri Lanka enters the order, holds a ‘Dhamma Sangayanawa’ and after a complete and thorough study of ‘Vinaya’ rules relating to Dhamma, then only will Buddhism be firmly established throughout Sri Lanka.”

According to chronicles, this was fulfilled by Minister Aritta, who entered the order. Therefore, the establishment of Buddhism on a firm footing took place on Vap Full Moon Poya Day.

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Full Moon Names and Their Meanings-Native Americans

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. Here is the Farmers Almanac's list of the full Moon names.

• Full Wolf Moon - January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January's full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.

• Full Snow Moon - February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February's full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.

• Full Worm Moon - March As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.

• Full Pink Moon - April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month's celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

• Full Flower Moon - May In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.

• Full Strawberry Moon - June This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June … so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!

• The Full Buck Moon - July July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon.

• Full Sturgeon Moon - August The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

• Full Corn Moon - September This full moon's name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon.

• Full Harvest Moon - October This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.

• Full Beaver Moon - November This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun

Re: Full Moon Names and Their Meanings-Native Americans

Each month of the calendar is marked by its full moon and Native Americans named these moons.

January - Wolf Moon
February - Hunger Moon
March - Maple Sugar Moon
April - Planter's Moon
May - Budding Moon
June - Strawberry Moon


Harvest festivals were maintained in North America at least, and probably in Mexcio and the Americas in August, September, and October of every year, from around 10,000 BC or earlier. This predates anything by the earliest explorers coming to The New World from Scandinavia and Western Europe.

July - Blood Moon
August - Green Corn Moon
September - Harvest Moon
October - Hunters Moon
November - Beaver Moon
December - Cold Moon


Today, these festivals of thanksgiving to the Great Spirit and to nature for crops and life are still celebrated in homes, at Pow Wows, and on reservations. Many nations have thanked the Great Spirit for providing abundance after the first full moon of September.

NOTE: The Harvest Thanksgiving Festival of Sukkoth is over 3,000 years old itself, Hebrew in origin, and celebrated by many Jews around the world, including America. That would place their first celebration sometime around 1000+ BC, before Thanksgiving in The New World.

Re: The Full Moon of Autumn

Thank you for this information, LittleDove.