Native Americans have enchanting names for the full moons of each month and the May moon is no exception.
Various early sources, including colonial and European, name the May full moon as Flower Moon, but the name originates with the Algonquin people, according to Christina Ruddy of The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre in Ontario. The Algonquin called the entire lunar month the Flower Moon.
It makes sense because spring flowers are abundant in North America in May.
The Cree people used names like Budding Moon and Leaf Budding Moon to describe May. The Dakota and Lakota people referred to the month as Planting Moon.
The Ogala people called May Moon of the Shedding Ponies, while the Cree sometimes referred to May as Frog Moon and Egg Laying Moon, according to almanac.com.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
