• About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • START HERE
  • CONNECT
    • FREE FUN Sign Up
  • ENGAGE
    • User Guide
    • Log In
    • Register
  • SHOP
  • FREEBIES

On2 In2

Find Your Fun - LIVE IT™

  • CHALLENGE
    • Air
      • Watch: High Flying
    • Athletics
    • Ball & Racket
      • Watch: Ball Games
    • Exploration
      • Watch: Climbing
      • Watch: Cross-Country Cycling
    • Martial Arts
    • Mind Games
    • Ride
      • Watch: Great Rides
    • Snow & Ice
      • Watch: Adventure Skiing
      • Watch: Downhill Runs
    • Target
    • Team
    • Water
      • Watch: Underwater Discoveries
      • Watch: Cranking Surf
  • CREATE
    • Visual Arts
      • Watch: Art Works
      • Watch: Photography
      • Watch: Thoughts on Filmmaking
      • Watch: Digital Arts
    • Performing Arts
      • Amateur Night LIVE
      • Watch: The Dance
      • Watch: Theatre Arts
      • Watch: Music Making
    • Creative Writing
    • Collections
      • Watch: Collector Confessions
  • CULTIVATE
    • Gardening
    • Cookery
    • Husbandry
    • Watch: Agrarian Pursuits
  • EXPERIENCE
    • Travel
      • Watch: Destinations
    • Adventure
      • Watch: Tours de Force
    • Nature
      • Watch: Natural Beauty
    • Gastronomy
  • ENLIGHTEN
    • Insight
      • Watch: Introspection
      • Watch: Creative Perspectives
    • Cosmos
      • Watch: Cosmos Channel
    • History
    • Science
      • Watch: Night Skies
      • Watch: Natural Sciences
  • MEDIA MIX
    • Live Streaming
      • Live Stream Program Guide
    • Video
    • Music
      • Special Concerts LIVE
      • Nashville Music LIVE
      • Watch: Music Videos
      • Watch: Classical Concert Series
      • Watch: Music Making
    • Books
      • BOOKS To LOVE ❤️
    • PLAYLISTS
      • Biodoc: Life Inspired
      • Biodoc: Super Dogs
      • Comedy: People & Phones
      • Comedy of Manners: Finding #Love
      • espnW Series: Run Mama Run
      • Fright Night Movies
      • Visual Soundscapes: Planet Earth
  • Live Stream Program Guide

Full Moon Rising

September 13, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

There’s something special about watching a full moon rising as it brings to light a sense of wonder and supernatural energy, inspiring art and poetry, mythology, folklore, and astrological study.  In many cultures and religions, moon gazing is an aesthetic practice with a spiritual element — a full moon symbolizing truth and enlightenment in Buddhism.  In others, a full moon evokes fear and legends of horror involving curses, vampires, ghosts and werewolves.

Full Moon Silhouettes, is a short video (by award winning photographer, filmmaker & visual effects artist, Mark Gee) of the moon rising over the Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington, New Zealand.  Mark shot the video in real-time, and did not manipulate or enhance the film.

 

But there’s a full moon risin’
Let’s go dancin’ in the light
We know where the music’s playin’
Let’s go out and feel the night.

Because I’m still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I’m still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
    (excerpt from Harvest Moon by Neil Young)

A Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere (the autumnal equinox) and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.  During a Harvest Moon, moonrise occurs shortly after sunset for several nights, resulting in a bright moonlight that traditionally allowed farmers more undarkened time to harvest their crops.  Most years, a full Harvest Moon appears in September, but occasionally it’s the October full moon as it was in 2017.

The 2019 Harvest Moon will make its appearance in the US & Canada just after midnight September 14 (12:35am EDT), and along with it comes celebrations and traditions around the world.

In Britain, giving thanks for a good harvest is a custom that goes back to pagan times, and a Harvest Festival (aka ‘Harvest Home’, ‘Harvest Thanksgiving’ or ‘Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving’) is traditionally held on a Sunday near the time of a Harvest Moon. The celebration includes singing, praying and decorating churches with baskets of fruit and produce.  Food is also collected from gardens and farms and distributed to those in need within the community or sold to raise funds for a church or charity.

Tsukimi (or Otsukimi, meaning ‘moon-viewing’, also known as Jugoya), refers to Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon. The festivities usually begin with a celebration of the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar, and the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month. (These dates normally fall in September and October). The traditions of the Japanese autumn moon festivals date back a thousand years, including the still popular custom of holding harvest moon-viewing parties on the evening of the full moon (‘Tsukimi’), decorating with Japanese pampas grass (‘susuki’), and serving Tsukimi dango (white rice dumplings), taro, edamame, chestnuts, seasonal foods and sake. Seasonal produce is also displayed as an offering to the moon for an abundant harvest—sweet potatoes to the full moon; beans or chestnuts to the waxing moon

Chinese lanterns in all shapes, sizes and colors have become a beautiful symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Chinese Lanterns, Marc oh! CC BY-ND 2.0

The Mid-Autumn Festival (aka ‘Moon Festival’) is a centuries old Chinese celebration of harvest, and one of the most widely celebrated in the world.  Held each year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month [2019: September 13; 2020: October 1 (China Standard Time)], the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important cultural holiday in China, Vietnam and among ethnic Chinese throughout Asia, based on traditions of gathering of family and friends, watching the moon (a symbol of harmony and unity), giving thanks, and praying for good fortune. There are also special offerings, incense burning, lion and dragon dances, food & drink, games and activities involved in the celebrations.  The mooncake is one of the hallmarks of these traditional customs (many millions of the sweet delicacy are sold each year), but the lantern has become the beautiful, glowing symbol of the festival as different designs, colors, shapes and sizes are carried, displayed and released to float in the sky during the celebrations.  [Note: The Mid-Autumn Festival is not celebrated on the day of the Harvest full moon, but there’s more than a 50% chance the two events will coincide in a calendar year.  Another Chinese festival involving lanterns is the ‘Lantern Festival’ (or Spring Lantern Festival), celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and marking the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations.  It’s become a popular celebration in Western countries, and is sometimes confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival.]

Information/Resources:

Full Moon Zen by Kenneth Craft, HuffPost (April 28, 2016/April 29, 2017)
Full Moon For October 2017, The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Lunar effect, Full moon, Harvest Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Tsukimi  (Wikipedia)

The tradition of moon gazing can be traced back to ancient cultures, and is still enjoyed today throughout the world.Check out this On2In2™ Moon Lover’s Guide to the best full moon viewing on Earth

 

 

 

 

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’re the social type as well as lovers of ice cream mooncakes.  Please register via the ENGAGE page to join the conversation, share your inspiration, ideas and creation, and network with On2In2™ playmakers.

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo is courtesy of Gerd Altmann via Pexels CC0

Filed Under: Enlighten, Experience, Video Tagged With: Astronomy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Log In/Log Out

LOOKING For Something?

FREE 2 WATCH: Downhill Runs

Mountain and snow make for fun skiing. Watch the best videos of winter fun on skies and boards.

FREE 2 WATCH: Love Stories ❤️

Finding love in a candy box of assorted chocolates

FREE 2 WATCH: Planet Earth Video Series

Watching nature videos can take you away from the stress of the day and bring on an feeling of happiness.

FREE 2 WATCH – Creatives @ PLAY

In this collection of video documentaries, artists reveal thoughts and feelings about their work and living a creative life.
https://youtu.be/DLgDKeih7hQ
Find recommended titles from the book lovers at On2In2™ Book Buzz Club.

FIND YOUR FUN

Alternative Apps Art Arts & Crafts Astronomy Baking Bicycle Biography Birding Boating California Concert Dance Digital Art Documentary Drinks Ecotourism Entertainment Environment Exploration Folk FREEBIES Genealogy Glacier Hiking Humor Indie Jazz Music Ocean Photography Planet Earth Poetry R&B Recipe Rock Skiing Soul Space Travel Stargazing Surfing Tennis Thriller Wildlife Wine

FUN FOR YOUR INBOX

Footer

MUCH 2 SEE

  • Watch: Cosmos Channel
  • Watch: Natural Beauty
  • Watch: Night Skies

THINGS 2 DO

  • Create
  • Cultivate
  • Challenge

PLACES 2 GO

  • Travel
  • Adventure
  • Watch: Destinations

PEOPLE 2 MEET

  • Biodoc: Life Inspired
  • Insight
  • Play With Us

FOOD & DRINKS

  • Cookery
  • Gastronomy
  • Watch: Agrarian Pursuits

JUST LAUGHS

  • Comedy of Manners: Finding #Love
  • Comedy: People & Phones
  • Dog Speak

Copyright © 2021 · Zeester Media LLC· Privacy & Security· Terms