The first full moon of the year occurs on January 25th and is called the Wolf Moon.
The name likely refers to the howling of wolves that was often heard during this time of year. It’s thought that wolves howled more during the winter due to hunger, communicating with their pack, or possibly because this is their breeding season.
This tradition of naming full moons dates back to Native American tribes in North America, who tracked the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. The howls of wolves were very noticeable in January when the forests were bare and the moon was bright, making it a notable feature of the winter nights.
