‘Pink Moon’ Set To Rise Over Earth On Good Friday

The full moon is named after the pink flowers which appear at the same time of year and indicate the start of spring. Wild ground phlox, better known as moss pink, is one of the first flowers which bloom in spring. Weather permitting, in the UK you should be able to spot the pink moon at around 8:05pm tomorrow for one night only.

It will also be visible to people in the rest of Europe and North America. The name is slightly deceiving though as the moon will actually take on a place orange hue, slowly turning yellow as it rises. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, thousands of years ago humanity tracked the seasons using lunar calendars, so April’s ‘pink moon’ declared the start of spring.

The website adds the full moon was given various names:

Native peoples once observed the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Time was not recorded by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. April’s full Moon is called the Full Pink Moon, heralding the appearance of the ‘moss pink’ or wild ground phlox — one of the early spring flowers.

Other names include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon. An old folklore saying believed ‘a full Moon in April brings frost, if the full Moon rises pale, expect rain’.