The Moon

The Moon and night-time sky has always mystified man. From planting to conceiving children, there are many superstitions around the Moon.
Moon and Superstitions and Folklore

Through the ages, folklore and traditions have been woven around the Moon in its various phases. Some of these will have originated from observations of the land, environment and night-time sky such as in farmers planting by the Moon and in forecasting a higher tide than normal when the moon is low. Other Moon-beliefs may not have such logical explanations. Even so, throughout the world, superstitions revolve around the Moon.

For instance in parts of Britain, anyone seeking good fortune should bow to the new moon and turn over any silver coins in his pocket. The silver colour of the Moon is rumoured to have a direct affinity with the silver from which the coins were made. So if a person holds up a coin to a new moon and wishes for money, over the days ahead as the moon "increases" in size, so too will their bank balance!

New Moon and Superstitions

Being without money when seeing a new moon is thought to be unlucky but if a person has some coins and turns them over without taking them out of their pocket, they will have plenty money over the month ahead and the wish that's made while turning the coins will be fulfilled.

New projects should be started at the time of the new moon while country-dwellers have long held the opinion that the time of the new moon is the time to plant crops.

In America, the new moon was used by lovers, who would glance over their right shoulders, take three steps backward and then say the following verse:

"New moon, new moon, true and bright,

If I have a lover let me dream of him tonight.

If I am to marry far, let me hear a bird cry;

If I am to marry near, let me hear a cow low;

If I am to marry never ,let me hear a hammer knock."

It is, however, an ill omen to see the new moon for the first time through a window and it is believed by some that it is wrong to point at the moon as this will bring hard times.

In Ireland it is thought to be good to cut your hair at the new moon, by the light of the moon but never on a Friday!

Planting by the Moon

It has to be said that the full moon, as is sometimes believed, is NOT always a negative omen.

The full moon pulls the crops upwards from the ground to result in a bumper harvest. The time of the full moon is also said to be a good time for curing many illnesses.

It is considered to be better to plant vegetables which grow underground, i.e. potatoes and carrots, in the dark of the moon and plant vegetables which grow above ground, i.e. corn and beans, in the light of the moon.

Moon and Romance

According to some superstitions, if a girl wants to know whether or not she is going to marry, if she holds a silk handkerchief up in front of the moon, the number of moons she can see through it represents the number of months she must wait before she will get wed.

The full moon is believed to rejuvenate feelings of love and stimulate pent up passions.

Moon and Weather

Ways the Moon is said to relate to weather:

A ring around the moon means that rain will come in three days
If a halo of watery colours surround the moon the weather will be changeable
If the new moon is on a Monday, weather will be good
Strongest storms are likely to be within three days of a new moon and three to five days after a full moon
If the moon is red, expect wind ahead
Expect fine weather if there is a single ring around the moon that quickly vanishes