Full moons have always symbolised and been used as touchstones for seasonal change. Full moon swims offer an ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the outdoors and observe the flowing seasons under new light. It’s also chance to find fresh motivation for your next swim outdoors.
Listed below you’ll find the dates of each full moon in 2023. This way you never have to miss another full moon swim, allowing you to prepare yourself properly ahead of each magical night.
Friday 6th January, 11:08pm UTC
Sometimes called the ‘Moon after Yule’, or the ‘Old Moon’ – the Wolf Moon is so-called in reference to a time when hungry wolves prowled outside village confines and often howled their blood-chilling cries at this time of year.
Sunday 5th February, 06:29pm UTC
Optimistically named after Northern Hemisphere snowfall, the Snow Moon was sometimes called the ‘Hunger Moon’ among Northern American Tribes due to the scarcity of food and tougher hunting conditions in frosty February.
Tuesday 7th March, 12:40pm UTC
Spring brings the radiant sight of the March full moon, which has been bestowed with various names around the world. These include: the ‘Sap Moon’, ‘Worm Moon’, ‘Chaste Moon’ (referring to the purity of early spring), ‘Crow Moon’, ‘Warming Moon’ and ‘Moon When the Leaves Break Forth’.
Thursday 6th April, 04:34am UTC
The Full Pink Moon – also known as the ‘Budding Moon’, ‘Full Melting Moon’, ‘Moon Where Ice Breaks In The River’ (by the Arapaho tribe) and ‘Fish Moon’ (as this is when fish begin to swim upstream).
Friday 5th May, 05:34pm UTC
May’s Big Leaf full moon is sometimes called the ‘Blossom Moon’, ‘Full Flower Moon’, ‘Corn Moon’, ‘Hare Moon’ and ‘Milk Moon’. This moon heralds a month when blossom bursts into life, more greenery appears and corn becomes ready for planting. It is also when cows are ready to milk more frequently.
Sunday 4th June, 03:42am UTC
June’s Hay Moon – sometimes known as the ‘Hot Moon’, ‘Honey Moon’ and ‘Full Strawberry Moon’ – is named for that time of the year when hay is cut, ripe strawberries are ready to be picked, and when the moon has reached its lowest arc across the sky. The moon thereby goldens and gains a glowing yellowed hue.
Monday 3rd July, 11:39am UTC
A turbulent month, the season of thunderstorms brings with it the ‘Buck Moon’ – named for that time of the year when new antlers sprout from buck’s foreheads.
That’s right, August 2023 has TWO full moons!
HUNGRY GHOSTS MOON: Tuesday 1st August, 06:31pm UTC
The Hungry Ghosts Moon hangs full-bodied over lotus-shaped water lanterns, which are lighted and set to float on lakes, rivers and pools. These floating lanterns are offered to stranded souls unable to find their way back safely into the afterlife. This full moon is also known as the ‘Sturgeon Moon’ among Native American tribes as this is the time of year when Sturgeon are most common in the Great Lakes.
FULL BLUE MOON: Thursday 31st August, 01:35am UTC
Known as a full blue moon because it’s the second full moon in a calendar month – it’s the second of only two supermoons in 2023.
Friday 29th September, 09:57am UTC
As the name suggests, September’s full moon tends to look much brighter and larger than on its other appearances throughout the year. This increased luminosity earned it the name ‘Big Moon’ among Native American tribes. While in the UK it is more commonly referred to as the ‘Harvest Moon’.
Saturday 28th October, 08:24pm UTC
The wonderfully-named ‘Blood Moon’ or ‘Hunter Moon’ rises early in the evening – that means you are more likely to see it lying low on the horizon. Similar to September’s ‘Big Moon’ it appears much bigger in the sky and scatters rays of vivid blue light, allowing more red light to reach your eyes.
Monday 27th November, 09:16am UTC
It isn’t exactly the origin of this moon’s name, but silhouetted reeds often accompany late October and November river swims (something to remember when you’re out among the riffles). Pagans have also called this the ‘Mourning Moon’ as it appears in the final stages of their winter preparation – the last moon before the winter solstice – which is devoted to the process of mourning. This moon is also sometimes known as the ‘Beaver Moon’, ‘Trading Moon’ and ‘Frost Moon’. Beavers are often busiest at this time of year, constructing their winter dams as the first frost creeps up to the water’s edge.
Wednesday 27th December, 12:33am UTC
A cold water swimmer’s favourite? The Cold Moon – also called the ‘Full Long Night’s Moon’, ‘the ‘Moon before Yule’ or ‘Oak Moon’. The Oak is a symbol of long-lasting strength: exactly the gnarled spirit we need to get through winter.
READ MORE:
