When December settles in and the year exhales its final, frosty breath, the full Cold Moon rises over the winter landscape. This year, it arrives Thursday, Dec. 4, reaching absolute fullness at 6:14 p.m. Eastern time, when it stands directly opposite the sun and shines with perfect roundness.
The Farmers’ Almanac lists peak illumination just two minutes later, at 6:16 p.m. ET — a small but intriguing difference in calculation. Either way, the early evening sky will host one of winter’s brightest spectacles.
Why This December Moon Stands So High
Every December, the full moon climbs to its greatest height because it appears near the winter solstice, when Earth’s 23.4-degree axial tilt lifts the moon’s path to its annual maximum.
But this year’s ascent is more than seasonal.
The moon’s orbit is tilted 5.1 degrees from Earth’s orbital plane. Over an 18.6-year cycle, that tilt slowly rotates — a celestial rhythm known as nodal precession.
When this cycle reaches its extreme, the moon’s rise and set points swing farthest north and south, and its arc in the sky reaches its maximum elevation. This rare alignment is called a major lunar standstill.
We are in such a standstill now.
That means the Cold Moon of 2025 will climb to heights unmatched until 2042, giving this full moon a striking loftiness seldom seen in the night sky.
A Brighter, Larger Moon: The Final Supermoon of the Year
In addition to its towering arc, December’s Cold Moon is also a supermoon — the last of three in 2025.
Because the moon’s orbit is elliptical, it sometimes swings closer to Earth at perigee. When a full moon coincides with this closeness, it appears up to 7% larger and shines up to 16% brighter than average.
Most people may not consciously notice the increased size, but the brightness — especially against snowy ground or crisp winter air — will feel unmistakably vivid.
Why We Call It the Cold Moon
“Cold Moon” is rooted in Native American and Celtic traditions, honoring the season’s deep chill. December’s full moon carries many names across cultures, each reflecting a different truth about winter:
- Long Night Moon — Mahican and Oneida
- Sun Has Traveled Home to Rest Moon — Zuni
- Winter Moon — Shoshone
- Dead of Winter Moon — Alaskan Inupiat
- Snow Moon — Cherokee and Haida
- Popping Trees Moon — Arapaho and Oglala
These echo names preserved in historical folklore — such as the Exploding Trees Moon (Cree) and the Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota).
A Season of Stories and Spirit
December has long been a month for gathering light when little exists. Many Indigenous cultures associate this moon with reflection and storytelling:
- Little Spirit Moon — Ojibwe and Chippewa
- Moon of Respect — Hopi
- Storytelling Moon — Catawba
- Christmas Moon or Moon Before Yule — Colonial American traditions
These names speak to winter’s inner life — quiet on the surface, but alive with subtle transformations.
A Moon Worth Looking Up For
On Dec. 4, as night falls and the Cold Moon rises, step outside — even for a moment — and stand under its bright, steady glow.
Look for its height, lifted by both the season and the 18.6-year standstill.
Look for its brightness, magnified by its supermoon closeness.
Look for its stillness, an anchor in the cold.
This is a moon shaped by ancient cycles — one that won’t rise this high again until 2042.
A winter moon worth remembering.
Subscribe to The Bright Story and step into a world of hope, wonder, and humanity at its best. With unlimited access, discover powerful personal journeys, heartwarming family and animal stories, incredible discoveries, and the everyday kindness that makes life brighter.