Flower Moon 2025: Everything You Need to Know About May’s Radiant Full Moon

The Flower Moon 2025: A Celebration of Spring’s Bloom: As the days grow longer and the air warms, May brings a celestial highlight: the Full Flower Moon. On Monday, May 12, 2025, at 12:56 p.m. EDT (16:56 GMT), the moon will reach its peak illumination, casting a radiant glow over the night sky. Known as the Flower Moon, this lunar event is a vibrant nod to the blooming wildflowers that blanket North America and Europe during spring. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Flower Moon, its cultural significance, and how to make the most of this enchanting night.

Why Is It Called the Flower Moon?

The name "Flower Moon" is rooted in Native American traditions, particularly attributed to the Algonquin peoples. May is a time when wildflowers like anemones, bluebells, lupines, and violets burst into bloom, transforming landscapes into colorful tapestries. The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that the term reflects the abundance of flora during this season, a sentiment echoed by many cultures. For the Algonquin, the Flower Moon marked a time of renewal and growth, aligning with nature’s awakening.

Beyond the Algonquin, other Native American tribes and cultures have their own names for May’s full moon, each reflecting regional or seasonal significance:

Cree: Budding Moon or Leaf Budding Moon, celebrating the sprouting of plants.

Dakota and Lakota: Planting Moon, signaling the start of the farming season.

Creek and Choctaw: Mulberry Moon, tied to the ripening of mulberry fruit.

Kalapuya (Pacific Northwest): Camas Blooming Time, honoring the blue camas flowers that were a staple food source.

Apache and Lakota: Season When the Leaves Are Green or Moon of the Green Leaves, noting the lush foliage.

In Anglo-Saxon traditions, the May full moon is sometimes called the Milk Moon, from the Old English term Rimilcemona (three-milkings-month), as cows could be milked three times a day due to plentiful spring grazing. Celtic names include Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, or Hare Moon, evoking fertility and the vibrancy of spring.

When and How to See the Flower Moon The Flower Moon will be at its fullest at 12:56 p.m. EDT on May 12, 2025, but it will appear bright and round from Sunday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 13. The best time to observe is at moonrise on May 12, when the moon rises in the east just after sunset, often glowing as an orange orb. Exact moonrise times vary by location—here are a few examples:

New York City: Moonrise at 8:30 p.m. EDT (sunset at 8:03 p.m.) Los Angeles: Moonrise at 8:14 p.m. PDT (sunset at 7:45 p.m.) London: Moonrise at 9:07 p.m. BST (sunset at 8:40 p.m.) Washington, D.C.: Moonrise at 8:37 p.m. EDT (sunset at 8:11 p.m.)For the best view: Find a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon, like an open field or elevated location.

Use binoculars or a small telescope to explore the moon’s craters and dark maria (ancient lava plains), though the full moon’s bright light may wash out some details. Check local moonrise times using apps like Sky Tonight or Starry Night, or consult a moonrise calculator. On May 12, the moon will be near the constellation Libra, close to the stars Zubenelgenubi and Antares. Two days later, on May 14, Antares, a bright red star, will be particularly prominent next to the waning moon, adding a celestial treat for stargazers.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance The Flower Moon is more than a beautiful sight—it’s a time of transformation and connection with nature. For Native Americans, it marked practical activities like planting crops or harvesting camas roots, as well as spiritual growth. The May full moon is seen as a moment to nurture projects started earlier in the year, much like tending to sprouting seeds.

Fun Facts and Tips Photography: Capturing the Flower Moon with a smartphone is tricky due to its small size in the sky. Use a tripod, zoom in, and adjust exposure settings. For better results, try a telescope with a phone adapter.Skywatching Bonus: Look for Mars and Jupiter in the western sky after sunset, or catch Saturn, Venus, and Neptune rising in the predawn sky on May 13.

Moon Proverbs: According to folklore, clothes washed during a full moon won’t last long, but it’s an ideal time to accept a marriage proposal

A Farewell to Spring The 2025 Flower Moon is the fifth of twelve full moons this year and the last full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. As it rises, it heralds the transition to summer’s warmth, a dazzling farewell to the season of renewal. Whether you’re a stargazer, a spiritual seeker, or simply someone who loves nature’s beauty, take a moment on May 12 to step outside, breathe in the spring air, and marvel at the glowing Flower Moon. Share your photos or reflections with friends or on social media using #FlowerMoon—what name would you give this moon in your own tradition?

May Moon Names Frog Moon (Cree). Ponies shed (Sioux). Bright moon (Celtic). Waiting Moon (Hopi). Mulberry Moon (Greek). Ninth Moon (Wishram). Idle Moon (Assiniboine). Big Leaf Moon (Mohawk). Panther Moon (Choctaw). Grass Moon (Neo-Pagan). Planting Moon (Cherokee). Corn Planting Moon (Taos). Little Corn Moon (Natchez). Green Leaf Moon (Apache). Corn Weed Moon(Agonquin). Field Maker Moon (Abernaki). Blossom Moon (Anishnaabe). Shaggy Hair Moon (Arapaho). Green Leaves Moon (Dakota). Fat Horses Moon (Cheyenne). Leaf Tender Moon (San Juan). Hare Moon (Medieval English). Milk Moon (Colonial American). Strawberry Moon (Potawatomi). Hoeing Corn Moon (Winnebago). Alewive Moon (Passamaquoddy). Ninth Moon (Dark Janic), Mothers Moon (Full Janic). Flower Moon, Corn Plant Moon, Milk Moon (Algonquin).