Harvest Moon: Full moon nearest the autumn equinox is a timeless symbol for ag
Halloween is deeply rooted in agriculture, originating from the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain which marked the end of harvest season.
Additionally, the bright orange Harvest Moon that rises over the plains each autumn has become a timeless symbol of hard work, abundance and the successful culmination of another productive season.
By the light of the moon
The Harvest Moon is the first full moon closest to the autumn equinox and often occurs in September or October.
Several sources note, throughout the year, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each night on average, while the Harvest Moon rises at nearly the same time – at or just after sunset – for several nights in a row, roughly 25 to 30 minutes later in the U.S. and 10 to 20 minutes later in Canada and Europe.
Scientifically, this occurs because of the moon’s elliptical orbit and its position relative to Earth’s tilt. Around the equinox, the moon’s path is nearly parallel to the horizon, which keeps it visible longer after sunset.
Prior to today’s advancements in technology and modern farming techniques, this extra moonlight provided growers and Native American Tribes with a predictable and consistent source of light, allowing them to continue working after the sun went down.
The ability to harvest crops for an extended period of time allowed them to gather as many crops as they could before the frost set in and the land went dormant, maximizing their yield and ensuring they had enough food stored for upcoming winter months.
Going with the tide
Originating from Native American Tribesʼ “Corn Moon” or “Barley Moon,” which was used to determine when corn was ready for harvest, many ancient growers also believed the Harvest Moon could influence the success of their crops.
According to legend, the moon could affect everything from soil moisture levels and sap flow to the gravitational pull on plants, and while modern technology has changed how harvest season unfolds, many producers believe the Harvest Moon still carries weight.
To this day, there are growers who recognize the changing of the seasons and timing of months by a lunar calendar, using moon cycles to guide their planting decisions.
Also referred to as biodynamic principles, these practices suggest planting crops under the Harvest Moon will yield a larger, tastier harvest.
Sources note some biodynamic methods propose specific planting and harvesting times based on the moon’s phases, encouraging growers to plant aboveground crops during the waxing phase and harvest them under the Harvest Moon, while planting and harvesting belowground crops under the waning moon.
Although science in support of these theories is mixed, the tradition persists as a testament to growers’ long-standing relationship with the Earth’s natural rhythms.
A symbol of season’s end
From European settlers who tracked the moon for planting to Native American Tribes who named full moons to mark seasonal cycles, the Harvest Moon is woven into folklore across cultures.
In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place under the Harvest Moon, celebrates summer’s abundant harvest and is marked by enjoying baked goods called “mooncakes” and lighting lanterns as beacons of light in people’s paths to prosperity and good fortune.
Some believe the color of the Harvest Moon is significant, with its robust red tint signaling a good harvest, while others mark it as a warning of lean times ahead.
In rural communities, the Harvest Moon represents closure and gratitude, a reminder the year’s work of sowing, watering, weeding and waiting has reached its end.
So, as October settles in and nights grow longer, agriculture’s oldest nightlight serves as a reminder that even in the darkness, the work of the nation’s ag producers still goes on.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
