The Moon Before Yule

What is the Moon Before Yule?

The Moon Before Yule is the last full moon of the year and marks the transition of autumn into winter. The December full moon was known by ancient Europeans as the Moon Before Yule as it happened on or around the time of the Winter Solstice. This important festival was the precursor to Christmas with many similar customs and traditions. In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere the December full moon is known as the Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon. This is due to the cold seasonal temperatures and long hours of darkness.

When is the December full moon in 2023?

The final full moon of the year, the Moon Before Yule is one not to miss! The spectacular December full moon will be seen on Wednesday 27th December 2023. Shining brightly, the full moon will be visible from Wednesday evening (27th December) through to Thursday morning (28th December) reaching its peak at 12.33am in the UK.

What is special about the Cold Moon?

The Cold Moon is the final full moon of the year, completing our annual trip around the sun. It's thought to represent rest and reflection on the year past, and of renewal and fresh starts. The long dark nights of December are the perfect opportunity to get outside and partake in some stargazing and observe the beauty of the night sky.

How to see the Moon Before Yule in the UK

The most important thing we need to see the full moon is clear skies! A high spot away from light pollution will offer the best viewing experience. Many of our National Parks have Dark Sky status and you can find your nearest Dark Sky area here. You may be lucky enough to see the full moon from your window or garden at home, look east to see the moon rise, or west as it sets.

Learn about the December Full Moon with children

Winter is the perfect time to for children to learn about the moon and stars. You don't need to stay up late or get up early to experience the wonders of the night sky in winter! Turn off your lights or torches to get the best view of the Moon Before Yule and see which stars you can spot. Looking north you will see The Plough (it looks a bit like a saucepan) just above the horizon. Looking to the south you can see Orion the Hunter with his belt of three stars. Dark Sky Discovery have a brilliant guide here to get you started.

Learning about the lunar cycle is a great way to help children connect with the natural world. Understanding months and seasons, tides and day/night cycles can all be linked to the moon. Uncle Goose Moon Phase Blocks are a lovely way to introduce these ideas to little children and are perfect for open-ended play too.

When is the next full moon?

With a full moon every 29.5 days, your next opportunity to catch a full moon will be January 25th 2024. Named after the howling wolves in January, it's known as the Wolf Moon in the northern hemisphere. Wrap up warm and get outside this winter to enjoy the wonders of the night skies.