Moon Myths 3 – New Moons

Moon phases including the Dark or New Moon

Continuing in our series of collecting superstitions, folk traditions and other Moon lore, here is a third collection that focuses on New Moons.

In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth. At this time, the dark (unilluminated) portion of the Moon faces almost directly toward Earth, so that the Moon is not visible to the naked eye.

The original meaning of the phrase new moon was the first visible crescent of the Moon, after conjunction with the Sun. This takes place over the western horizon in a brief period between sunset and moonset, and therefore the precise time and even the date of the appearance of the new moon by this definition will be influenced by the geographical location of the observer.

The astronomical new moon is sometimes known as the Dark Moon occurs at the moment of conjunction when the Moon is invisible from the Earth.

Here is a collection of New Moon lore:

If the New Moon is seen for the first time straight ahead, it predicts good fortune until the next New Moon.

If there are two Moons (two New or two Full) in the same month, the weather will be unfavorable and unsettled until the next New Moon.

Wood cut at the New Moon is hard to split. If it is cut at the Full Moon it is easy to split.

Looking for love? When the Moon is New, braid your hair or some kind of string while saying: I braid this knot, this knot I braid, To know the thing I know not yet, That while I sleep I plain may see. The man (woman) that my husband (wife) shall be. Not in his (her) best but worst array, Just what he (she) weareth every day. That I tomorrow may him (her) ken, From among all other men (woman).

Look at the New Moon and say: New Moon, New Moon, do tell me, Who my own true lover is to be. The color of his (her) hair, The clothes that he (she) will wear, On what day he (she) will appear.

If the New Moon is seen for the first time straight ahead, it predicts good fortune until the next New Moon.

The English had a saying: that if a member of the family died at the time of the New Moon, three deaths would follow.

Any New Moon on a Saturday or Sunday was said to predict rain and general bad luck.

Good luck will come your way if you first see the New Moon outside and over your right shoulder. You can make a wish that will be granted. The best luck came from looking at the Moon straight on.

Upon seeing the New Moon, bow to your mate or significant other and turn over the coins in your pocket. This will bring you luck in your relationship.

The Irish say never cut your hair, begin a journey, move into a new house, start a business, or cut out a dress on a Friday in particular, and especially if a New or Full Moon falls on a Friday.

Two New Moon spells to find your true love:

When the Moon is New, braid your hair or some kind of string while saying:  “I braid this knot, this knot I braid, To know the thing I know not yet, That while I sleep I plain may see. The man (woman) that my husband (wife) shall be. Not in his (her) best but worst array, Just what he (she) weareth every day. That I tomorrow may him (her) ken, From among all other men (woman).

Look at the New Moon and say:  “New Moon, New Moon, do tell me, Who my own true lover is to be. The colour of his (her) hair, The clothes that he (she) will wear, On what day he (she) will appear.”

The English had a saying: that if a member of the family died at the time of the New Moon, three deaths would follow.

Although the Koran expressly forbids worshiping the Sun or Moon, many Moslems still clasp their hands at the sight of a New Moon and offer a prayer.

Moon Myths 2

In reading about the full Moon names for my monthly posts on this blog, I have come across a lot of moon lore. Much of it is unattached to particular full Moons, so the information has just been piling up in a document on my computer. So, I decided to collect that information into some very loose thematic threads.

Here’s a second group of lunar beliefs, traditions and superstitions.

1. Good luck will come your way if you first see the New Moon outside and over your right shoulder. You also make a wish that will be granted. The best luck came from looking at the Moon straight on.
2.  To see the crescent Moon over the right shoulder was considered lucky, but seeing it over the left shoulder was unlucky.
3. If you move to a new house or location during a waning Moon, it will ensure you never go hungry.
4. In medieval Europe and England, “Moon’s men” were thieves and highwaymen who plied their trade by night. The current term “moonlighting” is similar, meaning to hold down and additional night job.
5. Many cultures felt that it was extremely unlucky to point at the Moon, and that curtseys to the Moon would bring a present before the next change of Moon.
6. It was often said that if a person was born at a Full Moon, he or she would have a lucky life.
7. A waning Moon was considered an unlucky time for a marriage or birth.
8. The Irish say that to see the future, for good or ill, take a mirror outside. Let the light of the Moon fall on the surface and stare into it. Any face that appears will be connected with your future.
9. In Ireland, it is said that if you walk nine times around a faery rath (hill) at the Full Moon, you will be able to find the entrance.
10.  In Italy they say that if the Moon changes on a Sunday, there will be a flood before the month is out.
11. In Cornwall, they said that if a birth took place during the waxing Moon, the next child would be the same sex as the one just born.

Moon Myths 1

Image: NASA

In what will probably be a continuing series here, here are some bits of Moon lore (or Moon myths).

Far from the scientific side of the Moon, eclipses and solstices is the lore and legend of  our favorite satellite. It’s the stuff that was once passed on to children and published in places like The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

As Native American and colonists monitored their gardens and nature, we inherited a similar mix of gardening lore, that oftentimes crosses paths with the phases of the Moon and the passing of the seasons which were recorded in gardening calendars.

Here is some of that side of the lunar lore which I will try to post throughout the year.

Whatever the weather is like the first twelve days of January indicates what the weather will be like for the next 12 solar months. Each day equals one month in succession.

To wish on the Moon in order to see a specific person soon, say, while looking at the Moon: ” I see the Moon, The Moon sees me. The Moon sees (name of the person) who I want to see.”

To get rid of warts, take a slice of apple and while looking at the New Moon, rub the flesh of the apple against the wart and say: “What I see is growing, What I rub is going.”  Bury the piece of apple. As it rots, the wart will disappear.

In prophesying marriage, on must look at the first Moon of the new year through a silk handkerchief. The number of Moons showing through it represents the number of months (Moons) of single life.

The Danes believed in a type of elves they called the Moon Folk. These were perfect in appearance when seen from the front, but were hollow when seen from the back. It was said that the Moon Folk caused sickness by blowing on humans.

In Italy they say that if the Moon changes on a Sunday, there will be a flood before the month is out.