It was great last month to resume full moon bonfire on the beach with friends and neighbors. Let’s do it again this month on Friday, July 23! We will start the bonfire near sunset and it will need to be out by 10:00. The bonfire will be between Boardwalks 1 and 2.
Sunset – 8:24 pm
Moonrise – 8:32 pm
High Tide – 8:47 pm
Full Buck Moon
To keep things simple, each person brings what you want: food, drinks, chairs and a stick of firewood for a big bonfire. Nothing will be provided but a beautiful beach, a bonfire and, hopefully, a full moon.
People ask if the bonfire will be held if it’s rainy. The bonfire will be cancelled if it is raining or rain is threatening as few would be comfortable attending.
Our Loggerhead turtles are possibly still nesting and babies are emerging. The fire needs to be out no later than 10:00 pm. This means our time together may be shorter than we wish but there will still be plenty of time to enjoy our beautiful beach and the companionship of our friends and neighbors.
Put these dates for the Full Moon Bonfires on your calendar:
Sunday, August 22
Monday, September 20
Wednesday, October 20
There’s always plenty of room on the beach for everyone, so invite a friend or bring your house guests.
How did this Full Moon got its name?
Per the Old Farmers Almanac:
July: Full Buck Moon – As summer peaks, the velvety antlers of male deer, which first begin to sprout in early spring finish growing, forming pointed tips and hardening into their final glory. The sight of their magnificent racks against the summer sky led to the name, Full Buck Moon. For farmers, high summer’s the time to cut and cure hay to put away for winter feed. So July’s full moon is also known as the Full Hay Moon. July is also the month when thunderstorms are most frequent, so this month’s full moon is sometimes called the Full Thunder Moon. Alternative names are:
• Berry Moon
• Feather Moulting Moon
• Halfway Summer Moon
• Month of the Ripe Corn Moon
• Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe
• Raspberry Moon
• Salmon Moon
I found another web site (http://newsclipper.hubpages.com/hub/The-Moon-Facts-Trivia-and-Folklore) This site also says the Cherokee Indians called it the Ripe Corn Moon and the English Medieval name was the Mead Moon.
Another web site (https://www.space.com/16830-full-moon-calendar.html) says the Chinese call it Hungry Ghost Moon.
-Submitted by Judy Morr