In November, Americans traditionally choose turkey, stuffing and gravy, pumpkin pie or pecan pumpkin soup to fulfill their seasonal pleasures. In the past, many American colonists hunted beavers in winter because of their warm, thick fur.
Beavers also make their own preparations in November. With the arrival of frost, leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall, prompting beavers to cut down trees to prepare dams for the cold months. However, historically, they have been hunted – all their efforts in vain.
Colonial Americans and Native American tribes appropriately named the full moon in November after these industrious rodents. They observed the seasonal habits of beavers, hence calling the lunar month of the 11th month in the lunar calendar “Beaver Moon.”
This year, the Beaver Moon falls on November 15 and will appear larger than usual. When the moon reaches its closest point to Earth (known as perigee), it may appear 7% larger than normal. This phenomenon gives rise to the term “supermoon.” This Beaver Moon will be the fourth and last supermoon of 2024.
On November 15, watch as the Beaver Moon rises from the east before sunset. A few minutes after rising, the full moon will reach its peak brightness at 4:29 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in the United States. As winter approaches, you may have noticed that nights come earlier, and time seems to stretch longer. November 14 and 16 will also present similar lunar spectacles, albeit strictly speaking, the moon won’t be full.
Each month’s moon cycle carries traditional names stemming from Colonial, Native American, and European cultures. Besides signifying the Beaver Moon of the season, November’s full moon holds many other traditional names. These typically indicate animals, cold weather, or human activities in late autumn.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Tlingit tribes call this moon the Digging or Scratching Moon, evoking images of animals foraging for fallen nuts or green shoots, or possibly digging holes in dens for hibernation. The Lakota tribes refer to it as the Deer Rutting Moon, as November is the time for deer mating. Meanwhile, the Algonquins name it the Whitefish Moon, as it marks the whitefish spawning season.
The Cree and Assiniboine tribes call it the Frost Moon, while the Anishinaabe tribe refers to it as the Ice Moon.
As November brings us closer to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, an astronomical moon pseudonym sometimes supersedes all these traditional titles. In Celtic tradition, the full moon closest to the winter solstice is called the Darkest Deep Moon or Mourning Moon. This typically occurs in December, but in rare cases, the November full moon occasionally meets the criteria as it is closer to the solstice.
A notable distinction between the Beaver Moon and these Celtic traditional monikers is that the former denotes the entire lunar month, while the latter specifically points to the full moon.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, don’t always be preoccupied with oven temperatures and cooking times per pound of turkey; take some time to think about the beavers. Leisurely stroll to your local corner store or grocery to buy breadcrumbs or rosemary. Breathe in the evening air at sunset and gaze to the east at the Beaver Moon. And as you contemplate the winter challenges of our long-gone ancestors, take a moment to express gratitude.
Let’s embrace the spirit of the season and appreciate the wonders of nature and tradition surrounding us.