Cold Moon: name origin, symbolism and the December full moon
The Cold Moon is the December full moon. Origin of the name, rival names such as the Long Night Moon, the high moon of the winter solstice, Yule, safe candles and simple gestures.
Key points
| Month | December (northern hemisphere) |
|---|---|
| English name | Cold Moon |
| Origin of the name | The arrival of severe cold and long nights; the almanac attributes this name to the Mohawks |
| Other names cited | Long Night Moon, Midwinter Moon, Hoar Frost Moon, “Before Yule” Moon |
| Indicative dates | 24 December 2026 (around 2 a.m.); 13 December 2027 (Paris time, indicative calculation) |
| Height in Paris | Around 60 to 70 degrees: the highest of the year, along with those of January |
The December full moon
The Cold Moon (Lune Froide in French) is the popular name for the December full moon. It falls in the month of the winter solstice, on the shortest days of the year. In the northern hemisphere, it is the season of deep cold, endless nights and festivals of light. In the southern hemisphere, it is the beginning of summer: the name has no seasonal meaning there.
Origin of the name
For December, the Old Farmer's Almanac writes that winter's cold sets in and the nights lengthen, and it attributes the name “Cold Moon” to the Mohawks. Other lists place “Cold” at a different time: the Improved Order of Red Men, in the 19th century, gave this name to the January full moon, and in Jonathan Carver's list (1778), the month “Cold” comes after the winter solstice. As usual, names shift from one list to another.
Other names cited for December: Long Night Moon (attributed to the Mohicans), Midwinter Moon (Lakota, northern Ojibwe), Moon of the Cracking Trees (Oglala), Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe), Moon That Makes Winter (Western Abenaki). The 1937 Maine Farmers' Almanac uses Moon Before Yule. The name “Long Night Moon” has become common since the 1990s: it suits the solstice full moon very well.
The highest full moon
At the winter solstice, the Sun is very low at midday. The full moon, which is opposite the Sun, is therefore very high: in Paris, it peaks at about 60 to 70 degrees above the horizon (give or take 5 degrees, because of the tilt of the Moon's orbit, and varying over an 18.6-year cycle). It stays above the horizon for about sixteen hours, almost the whole night, and its bright light on frost or snow casts sharp shadows. This is the exact opposite of the very low Strawberry Moon of June.
| Year | December full moon (Paris time) | Winter solstice (Paris time) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 December, around 2:30 a.m. | 21 December, around 9:50 p.m. |
| 2027 | 13 December, around 5 p.m. | 22 December, around 3:40 a.m. |
This is an indicative calculation, accurate to within a few minutes. Some sources present the full moon of 24 December 2026 as a “supermoon”; see supermoon for definitions and caveats.
Yule, Christmas and the festivals of light
The Cold Moon falls within the period of Yule, the name of a midwinter festival of the Germanic peoples (jól in Old Norse). 25 December, the date of Christmas, is attested in Rome as early as 336 (in the Chronography of 354), and it also matches the Roman date of the solstice and that of a festival of the Unconquered Sun, established in 274. Historians still debate the link between these dates; see Celtic festivals and Christian festivals. Everywhere, December is a season of light: Hanukkah for Jewish communities, Christmas for Christians, Dongzhi in East Asia, and the Saint Lucia festivals in Scandinavia.
Modern symbolism
In modern practice, the Cold Moon is associated with rest, inner life, returning to what is essential, and solidarity among loved ones. It is the moon of the “long night” that precedes the return of the light. These are images, with no predictive value.
December can also be hard: cold, isolation, bereavement, tiredness. If you are going through a dark period, talk to someone close to you or to a doctor. If you have suicidal thoughts, the 3114 helpline in France answers day and night, free of charge; 112 is the emergency number across the European Union.
The solstice is not the coldest day
In Paris, around 21 December, the Sun rises at about 8:40 a.m. and sets at about 4:55 p.m. (winter time): it is the shortest day, but not the coldest. The coldest months are generally January and February, because the Earth, its oceans and the air keep cooling after the solstice: this is called thermal lag. The December Cold Moon therefore opens winter more than it marks its peak. This lag is ordinary: it can also be seen in summer, whose peak heat comes after the June solstice.
Simple and safe gestures
- Go out to watch the Moon well wrapped up, with a hot drink, and go back in before you get cold.
- Check in on someone living alone or elderly in your circle.
- Light candles with care: a stable candle holder, away from curtains and decorations. Never place them on a natural fir tree, since a dry tree catches fire very quickly; prefer fairy lights or LED candles, especially with children or animals.
- Prepare a festive meal and set screens aside for an evening.
See also the simple Yule ritual and the seasonal altar page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the December full moon so high?
Because it is opposite the Sun, which is very low in winter. The Moon therefore climbs high in the sky, just as the Sun does in summer.
Is the Cold Moon always in December?
In the Old Farmer's Almanac list, yes. In other older lists, the name refers to January.
What is the Long Night Moon?
Another name for the December full moon, the one closest to the winter solstice, the longest night of the year.
Does the Cold Moon of 2026 fall on Christmas?
Not quite. By our calculation, it is full during the night of 23 to 24 December 2026, around 2:30 a.m. (Paris time), on the eve of Christmas.
Can you hold a Cold Moon ritual?
Nothing is required. A walk, a candle used safely or a meal with loved ones is enough. No ritual promises any result.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to The Wheel of the Year.