April’s full moon Indian name
Apr. 20, 6:25 a.m. EDT — Full Pink Moon. The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names were the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and — among coastal tribes — the Full Fish Moon, when the shad came upstream to spawn.
Full moon names were bestowed by the Native Americans of what is now the northern and eastern United States. A few hundred years ago, those tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.
Turtle Icon… the Native Americans had great respect for the natural world and it’s creatures. Dependent upon nature for survival, they carefully observed nature’s cycles and learned from her. Animals and plants were utilized with respect for their spirits and the regeneration of their species was sought through the enactment of rituals. Every animal had its place in the cycle of life and the people treasured stories of the animal’s powers.
The turtle was afforded great respect, for he was believed to carry the earth on his back. And in the grooved sections of the turtles hard shell is a kind of calendar, a record of the thriteen moons of each year. Native Americans named the moons for events that occured during their 28-day cycles. To the Potowatomi, the second moon is Moon When Baby Bears Are Born; to the Secenca, the sixth is Strawberry Moon; and the Menominee call the eight Moon Of Wild Rice. These luner mysteries are contained in the turtles shell.
