Cold Moon 2026

Cold Moon meaning

December's full moon is named for the cold that settles in around it, and in Europe for the long nights it lights: the full moon nearest the winter solstice stays above the horizon longer than any other in the year.

Also called: Long Night Moon, Oak Moon, Moon before Yule. The names come from the seasonal calendars of Native American, Colonial American and European tradition, as collected in the Old Farmer's Almanac; each one marks what was happening on the land in that month.

When is the Cold Moon?

• 2026Thursday, 24 December 2026, 01:28 UTCEvery phase in December 2026
• 2027Monday, 13 December 2027, 16:09 UTCEvery phase in December 2027
• 2028Saturday, 2 December 2028, 01:40 UTCEvery phase in December 2028
• 2029Thursday, 20 December 2029, 22:47 UTCEvery phase in December 2029

Times are UTC; your local time is shown in the opening line. A full moon is an instant, but the Moon looks full to the eye the night before and the night after as well.

Best time to see the Cold Moon

Go out at moonrise on the evening of Thu 24 Dec: look east just after sunset, when the Moon sits on the horizon, looks largest, and takes on its warmest colour. The Cold Moon is up for the longest stretch of the year in the north, from early evening to late morning, on the highest track across the sky.

Tonight's moonrise time for your location is on the live moon page.