Are you ready for a celestial treat? The last full Moon of spring — known as the Strawberry Moon — will reach its peak on June 11 at 3:44 p.m. Eastern Time. Whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, it’s the perfect moment to step outside, look up and reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world.
What’s in a Name?
Despite its sweet-sounding name, the Strawberry Moon doesn’t actually turn red or pink. The reddish tint we sometimes see on the Moon happens only when it’s close to the horizon, where Earth’s atmosphere scatters the light like a giant pair of sunglasses. Instead, this full Moon earns its name from the season itself.
For many Native American tribes, including the Algonquian peoples of the Northeast, as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota, the Strawberry Moon marks the time when wild “June-bearing” strawberries ripen — ready to be gathered and savored. It’s a name that celebrates nature’s generosity and the abundance of early summer’s bounty.
This naming tradition stretches far and wide. The Haida people of the Pacific Northwest call this period the Berries Ripen Moon, honoring the same seasonal harvest.
More Than Just Strawberries
The Strawberry Moon is just one of many evocative names given to full Moons throughout the year — each tied to the seasonal changes and activities of the communities that watch the skies.
Across cultures, June’s Moon has worn many hats. The Anishinaabe call it the Blooming Moon, a nod to the flourishing flowers of the season. The Cherokee speak of the Green Corn Moon, signaling the time to tend young crops, while the Western Abenaki know it as the Hoer Moon.
The Tlingit people call it the Birth Moon, marking the arrival of new life in the animal kingdom. The Cree tribes speak of the Egg Laying and Hatching Moons — signs that the natural world is bustling with fresh beginnings.
A Month of Love and New Beginnings
June itself holds special meaning in many traditions. Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, June has long been associated with weddings and new families. Europeans gave the June full Moon names like the Honey Moon and Mead Moon — terms that hint at the sweet beginnings of marriage and, quite possibly, the origin of our modern word “honeymoon.”
So, when you gaze up at the Strawberry Moon this June, remember you’re joining a long line of observers who have found meaning, hope and joy in the cycles of the Moon — and in the changing of the seasons.
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