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Strawberry Moon: Full Moon in June 2024 | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Strawberry Moon: Full Moon in June 2024

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Colleen Quinnell/The Old Farmer's Almanac

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The full Strawberry Moon rises on Friday, June 21, 2024. Will it be pink? What is the true origin of the name “Strawberry Moon,” and what are some other June Moon names? Learn more!

When to See the Full Moon in June 2024

On the evening of Friday, June 21 —just after sunset—look towards the southeast to watch the full Moon rise gently above the horizon. There, it will appear large and golden-hued.

June’s full Moon will reach peak illumination at 9:08 P.M. Eastern Time. See the Full Moon Calculator for your local time.

Why Is It Called the Strawberry Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Historically, names for the full or new Moons were used to track the seasons. Today, we think of Moon names as “nicknames” for the Moon.

June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—has traditionally been called the Strawberry Moon. While strawberries certainly are a reddish-pink color and are roundish in shape, the origin of the name “Strawberry Moon” has nothing to do with the Moon’s hue or appearance, despite the evocative imagery (shown in the artist rendering below). A Moon usually appears reddish when it’s close to the horizon because the light rays must pass through the densest layers of the atmosphere.

 
This “Strawberry Moon” name has been used by Native American Algonquian tribes that live in the northeastern United States as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. The Haida term Berries Ripen Moon reflects this as well. As flowers bloom and early fruit ripens, June is a time of great abundance for many.

Full moon over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA.

Alternative June Moon Names

Over time, many cultures have used different names for the 12 full moons experienced each year. Usually, they’re not based on a color but on a common activity that takes place that time of year. 

Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe) is indicative of the flowering season, while Green Corn Moon (Cherokee) and Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki) suggest that it’s time to tend to young crops.

Other names highlight that this is a time of new life: The Tlingit have used the term Birth Moon, referring to the time when certain animals are born in their region (the Pacific Northwest). Egg Laying Moon and Hatching Moon are Cree terms that also hint at a time of many animal babies.

Alternative European names for this Moon include the Honey Moon and the Mead Moon. June was traditionally the month of marriage and is even named after the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. Following marriage comes the “honeymoon,” which may be tied to this alternative Moon name!

→ See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.

Moon Phases for June 2024

See our Moon Phase Calendar to customize dates and times to your location.

June Moon Phase Dates and Times
New Moon: June 6, 8:38 A.M. EDT
First Quarter: June 14, 1:18 A.M. EDT
Full Moon: June 21, 9:08 P.M. EDT
Last Quarter: June 28, 5:53 P.M. EDT

→ Also, find the Moon rise and set times here.

June Moon Folklore

  • A growing Moon and a flowing tide are lucky times to marry.
  • Days following both the New and Full Moons are most likely to be rainy or stormy.
  • Crabbing, shrimping, and clamming are best when the Moon is full.

Full Strawberry Moon Video

Learn more about how the full Strawberry Moon name originated, along with some fascinating Moon facts, in our short video here:

Best Days in June 2024

Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in June.

ActivityBest Days
Go Camping19-21
Setting Eggs14,15, 23-25
Fishing6-21

→ See all activities on our Best Days calendar.

Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprise that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann