Sunday night is the full moon for March, and this one’s got an unforgettable name: The Worm Moon.
It’s not the most elegant of monikers, but it suits the season — kind of. According to lore, the full moon was named for the time of year when robins start to reemerge from where they spent the cold season, tugging at worms in the thawing ground. Though it’s true worms would be more accessible to birds when spring hits, robins actually never leave most places, unlike many birds that do migrate elsewhere for winter. “Many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range,” according to Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology. “But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you’re much less likely to see them.” Like most full moons, the one in March has a bunch of other names, too. You could call it the Sap Moon, the Crust Moon, the Crow Moon, even the Maple Sugar Moon. Much like the robin, sap oozing from maple trees has often been considered a sign that spring is about to arrive, particularly in New England, according to NPR. Of course, the truest mark of spring doesn’t happen until next Thursday, March 20. That’s the vernal equinox, the actual first day of the season. The east coast of the United States officially switches over around 1 p.m. The days will grow longer and warmer. Though there’s always a chance for a late-season snowstorm (like the one that could hit parts of the Midwest and Northeast Sunday into Monday), spring is literally right around the corner.Let's see what Marty decides for the parade! Have fun everyone!
ERIN GO BRAUGH
Annah
Sunday night is the full moon for March, and this one’s got an unforgettable name: The Worm Moon.
It’s not the most elegant of monikers, but it suits the season — kind of. According to lore, the full moon was named for the time of year when robins start to reemerge from where they spent the cold season, tugging at worms in the thawing ground.
Though it’s true worms would be more accessible to birds when spring hits, robins actually never leave most places, unlike many birds that do migrate elsewhere for winter. “Many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range,” according to Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology. “But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you’re much less likely to see them.”
Like most full moons, the one in March has a bunch of other names, too. You could call it the Sap Moon, the Crust Moon, the Crow Moon, even the Maple Sugar Moon. Much like the robin, sap oozing from maple trees has often been considered a sign that spring is about to arrive, particularly in New England, according to NPR.
Of course, the truest mark of spring doesn’t happen until next Thursday, March 20. That’s the vernal equinox, the actual first day of the season. The east coast of the United States officially switches over around 1 p.m. The days will grow longer and warmer.
Though there’s always a chance for a late-season snowstorm (like the one that could hit parts of the Midwest and Northeast Sunday into Monday), spring is literally right around the corner.
Spring is right around the corner.. and I took my first ride yesterday on my motorcycle after getting it out of winter moth balls..so, there is hope !!! Crocus's are sprouting and I suspect we will have a warm spring.. ! I think everyone is soooo tired of cold weather !!
The worm moon.. a sign that soon we will be complaining about the heat !! (never....)
-- Modified on 3/16/2014 5:42:44 AM
And maybe some " anna go braless" in the name of St Patty. Also there is a new show on the tube called Cosmos you would probably like it. Thanks for the info on the worm moon, being an amateur bird watcher I appreciated it.
All of Anna's talk about astronomy reminds me of her full moon and it has certainly thawed out my worm.