The “Wolf Moon” is the traditional name for the first full moon of January, and it likely comes from midwinter wolf howls that people associated with the cold, hungry depths of winter.

What is a Wolf Moon?

  • A Wolf Moon is simply the full moon that appears in January each year.
  • Many traditional moon names come from seasonal patterns, animals, and weather noticed by communities in North America and Europe.

Why is it called a Wolf Moon?

  • In midwinter, wolves were often heard howling, especially when food was scarce, so people linked that eerie sound with the bright January full moon.
  • Over time, this association turned into a persistent name in almanacs and folklore, even though wolves do not literally howl more at the full moon itself.

Who named the Wolf Moon?

  • The exact origin is unclear: some sources point to Native American traditions, others to Anglo‑Saxon or medieval European naming.
  • Modern lists of full‑moon names, like those used by the Old Farmer’s Almanac, blend Native American, Colonial American, and European sources into one popular set.

Other names for January’s full moon

  • January’s full moon has also been called things like the Old Moon, Ice Moon, or Moon After Yule, all emphasizing winter cold and the post‑holiday season.
  • These alternate names show how different cultures highlighted either the harsh weather or the time of year, while “Wolf Moon” highlights the animal life people noticed then.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.