Catch the Full Worm Moon!
The full Worm Moon reaches its peak in the morning hours of Tuesday, March 7. Look for it to rise after sunset on both Monday and Tuesday! What is a Worm Moon? Here are the real meaning and origins of March’s full Moon—and when you can see this Moon at its brightest!
When to See the Full Moon in March 2023
The final full moon of the winter season will appear on the nights of Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7. Specifically, March’s full Worm Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:42 A.M. ET on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until the middle of the night to see the Moon! Look for the spectacularly bright Moon as it rises above the horizon on Monday evening. If your weather is poor on Monday night, try again on Tuesday! See when the Moon will be visible in your area.
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If you have just a bit of rain on either of these nights, you may even get to spot a rare phenomenon called a moonbow. A moonbow is just like a solar rainbow, but is created by moonlight (rather than sunlight) when it is refracted through water droplets in the air. Moonbows only happen when the full Moon is fairly low in the sky, so look for one in the hours after sunset when the sky is dark. Learn more about moonbows here!
This March Moon will look especially large to us when it’s near the horizon because of the “Moon illusion,” when it looks bigger when near comparative objects than it does when it’s high in the sky without any references.
Why Is It Called the Worm 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. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon.
The Surprising Truth Behind the Worm Moon Name
March’s full Moon goes by the name Worm Moon. For many years, we thought this name referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring!
However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.
Alternative March Moon Names
There are quite a few names for the March Moon that speak to the transition from winter to spring. Some refer to the appearance (or reappearance) of certain animals, such as the Eagle Moon, Goose Moon (Algonquin, Cree), or Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe), while others refer to signs of the season:
- The Sugar Moon (Ojibwe) marks the time of year when the sap of sugar maples starts to flow.
- The Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo) refers to the strong windy days that come at this time of year.
- The Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine) highlights the blinding rays of sunlight that reflect off the melting snow of late winter.
The Lenten Moon
March’s full Moon often plays a role in religion, too. Specifically, in Christianity, this Moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it is the last full Moon of the winter season (i.e., if it occurs before the spring equinox) or as the Paschal Full Moon if it is the first full Moon of spring (i.e., if it occurs after the spring equinox).
This year, March’s full Moon (March 7, 2023) occurs before the spring equinox (March 20, 2023), making it the Lenten Moon. April’s full Moon (April 6, 2023) will be the first full Moon to occur after the spring equinox and will therefore determine the date of Easter this year. Read more about how Easter’s date is determined.
→ See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.
Moon Phases for March 2023
All dates and times listed here are Eastern Time. See our Moon Phase Calendar for local times.
March Moon Phase Dates and Times
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: March 7, 7:42 A.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: March 14, 10:10 P.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: March 21, 1:26 P.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: March 28, 10:33 P.M. ET |
→ When is the next full Moon? Consult our Full Moon Calendar to find out!
March Worm Moon Video
Each month, we explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about the full Worm Moon, Moon illusions, and when and why the Moon rides high or low in the sky. Click below to watch the video.
Best Days in March 2023
Below are the best days for activities based on the Moon’s sign and phase in March.
For Planting:
Aboveground crops: 1, 2, 28–30
Belowground crops: 11, 12
For Setting Eggs: 7–9
For Fishing: 1–7, 21–31
→See Best Days for more activities.
See more Full Moon Names and share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!
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Last evening about 530 — 600 pm. The sun was still up low in the sky,though, and moon was on the other side of the sky. How could they both be seen together like that...??
I saw the name Full Sap Moon and was reading the comments like Anne (3/30/18) and wondered what other trees can be tapped. I remember an article about this once, somewhere, about a small tree or bush some people cut the tips of branches and bend them down to a bottle or jug rather than using a tap to "sugar" the tree. There seems to be any number of trees that can be sugared, that is tapped,....
This was so interesting a little complicated...I had to read it a couple times to get it in my head...but so interesting...I didn't or had not ever heard of how we get the date for Easter and I am Catholic. Thank you very much.
What about those of us who live in the other hemisphere p!?
We’re heading into autumn (or fall I believe you folk call it)- how does this full moon relate!?
How do the names of the full moons relate to us here, or are they, like many of our experiences- ‘opposite’!?
Or is there a completely seperate list for the land down under!? :) :)
I’d really love to know!
Thanks
Fiona :)
Hi Fiona, That’s a very interesting question! I think it’s a first for us.The Old Farmer’s Almanac is a North American publication founded in 1792 when George Washington was president, so our Moon names come from a history of Colonialism and Europe heritage as well as the Native American influence.
So, it may be interesting to look at your early culture and especially consider the native peoples. Also, many of the Moon names are based on what’s happening in nature so you would want to look at some of the natural biological cycles in your region. I’m sure you have different plants and animals and weather!
Then again, you’re welcome to borrow the same names but “reverse” them. For example, if the Harvest Moon is nearest the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, then you could call your March Moon (nearest the vernal equinox) the Harvest Moon.
Keep in mind that many Moon names do not apply to all of the U.S. regions either since we immigrated from Britain and Europe and also first settled in the Northeast. For example, we call the June Moon the “Strawberry Moon” because early Americans harvested in June; however, people in the Southern U.S. will have already harvested in February. It’s just a nod to our heritage. And it’s a fun way to think about the lunar calendar!
Maple Sap Trees; Birch Trees; "Maple Sap produces Maple Syrup; Birch Trees = Birch Syrup;
I have not "tested" Birch Syrup yet; Maple Syrup is an excellent natural healthy sweetener:
i'm on the beach and love watching rise out of the water... need a time chart for each night...
Before going to the dentist for any work, check the date of your appt to see what part of the body the moon sign is in. If in the head, do not have dental work done, it will not take... This has happened to me SEVERAL times and now I tell everyone who's going to the dentist!
what does that mean?
Parts of the body were traditionally associated with the signs of the zodiac (Aries, Virgo, etc.), represented by the Man of Signs. Currently, we are in the time of Aries (March 21–April 20), and because Aries is associated with the head, it is considered by some to be a bad time to have medical work done on the head (including the eyes, mouth, and so on).
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