The song, “Carolina Moon”, written in 1924 by Joe Burke and Benny Davis, often floats through my thoughts when I gaze up at a North Carolina moon. I also warmly equate it with my dear mother, born in Swansboro, NC just one year before the song was composed. Legend has it, that it was written while the lyricist was on the road, missing his sweetheart, while gazing up at the moon shining down in Hertford, North Carolina (just fifteen minutes north of my home in Edenton.) The photo, above, was taken by my talented husband, William F. Ahearn (my Bill) of the moon peeking through the branches of Edenton’s Dram Tree in our town harbor. (You can see more of his work at— https://ahearnarts.com )
I love the traditional moon names and relish the moon month in which I was born: the Pink Moon of April, because of the lovely pink, spring phlox blooming across the land.
I am working on a children’s book project in which a little boy (Charlie) and his great-grandmother (Nana) share traditional moon names and Charlie’s own names for them. And, this month, I’m sharing an excerpt with you!
An excerpt from Once in a Blue Moon by Kathryn Louise Wood:
~July’s moon smiled in as Nana sipped her lemon tea.
“The Buck Moon,” she told Charlie. “When male deer sprout their velvety new antlers each year.”
Charlie placed his hands on the windowsill and gazed up into the moonlight. “I’d call it Fireworks Moon because so many explode in the sky in July.”
“Ah,” said Nana. “That’s a good name, too.”
August’s moon crept in while Nana sipped pomegranate tea.
“The Thunder Moon,” she said.
Charlie saw a flash of lightning behind the trees and heard low, rumbling thunder. “We do get a lot of thunderstorms now, but I’d call it Sprinkler Moon because Dad lets me run through the water of the lawn sprinkler to cool off.”
“Yes,” said Nana. “I like that name.”~
Photo, above, shot by the author, June 2022: “Full Strawberry Moon”
So, what would you name the moons of July and August? I’d love to read your ideas in the Comments!
Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back, now!
Kate
Author of middle-grade supernatural mysteries including one that features the Harvest Moon!
Zephyr Stone and the Moon Mist Ghost
