cerridwen
07-29-2004, 02:22 PM
here's an article I found on blue moons... thought it was interesting to share... does anyone have blue moon spells or rituals?
'Blue Moon' Facts & Folklore
Updated 07/28/04 - The almanac tells us that Saturday, July 31 will be the occasion of a "blue moon (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bluemoon1.html)," currently defined as the second full moon occurring within a single month.
The phrase was understood in a much more literal way historically, writes folklorist Philip Hiscock in the pages of Sky & Telescope (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article%5F377%5F1.asp). It used to denote a phenomenon even rarer than two full moons in a month, one that has occurred perhaps once or twice in recorded history: the moon actually turning blue in color.
"In fact," observes Hiscock, "the very earliest uses of the term were remarkably like saying the Moon is made of green cheese. Both were obvious absurdities, about which there could be no doubt. 'He would argue the Moon was blue' was taken by the average person of the 16th century as we take 'He'd argue that black is white.'"
Unusual atmospheric phenomena like massive amounts of volcanic dust probably account for the few times in history when the moon reportedly did present a blue face to observers on earth.
Most people don't realize that "blue moon" took on its present astronomical meaning fairly recently. It's "a truly modern piece of folklore, masquerading as something old," says Hiscock. Still, the phrase retains its ancient connotations, as evidenced in popular songs (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/blue%2Dmoon.htm) identifying the image with loneliness and despair.
'Blue Moon' Facts & Folklore
Updated 07/28/04 - The almanac tells us that Saturday, July 31 will be the occasion of a "blue moon (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bluemoon1.html)," currently defined as the second full moon occurring within a single month.
The phrase was understood in a much more literal way historically, writes folklorist Philip Hiscock in the pages of Sky & Telescope (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article%5F377%5F1.asp). It used to denote a phenomenon even rarer than two full moons in a month, one that has occurred perhaps once or twice in recorded history: the moon actually turning blue in color.
"In fact," observes Hiscock, "the very earliest uses of the term were remarkably like saying the Moon is made of green cheese. Both were obvious absurdities, about which there could be no doubt. 'He would argue the Moon was blue' was taken by the average person of the 16th century as we take 'He'd argue that black is white.'"
Unusual atmospheric phenomena like massive amounts of volcanic dust probably account for the few times in history when the moon reportedly did present a blue face to observers on earth.
Most people don't realize that "blue moon" took on its present astronomical meaning fairly recently. It's "a truly modern piece of folklore, masquerading as something old," says Hiscock. Still, the phrase retains its ancient connotations, as evidenced in popular songs (http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/blue%2Dmoon.htm) identifying the image with loneliness and despair.