When I was a kid, I found the song “Shine on Harvest Moon” haunting. What does “I ain’t had no lovin’ since…mean to an 8-year-old? Pretty scary stuff! I got that the weather was changing and there wasn’t much time for this lovin’ stuff, so better get to it while the harvest moon was shining. That made sense, but what did that have to do with harvesting?
A “Harvest Moon” designation goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal (fall) Equinox when there is less time between sunset and the moonrise than at any other time of year. The Harvest Moon usually comes in September, but sometimes it will fall in early October as is did this year, occurring on October 4. The harvest Moon used to be a necessity for farmers who harvested into the night. Now their behemoth machinery light up the night so that harvesting can continue regardless of daylight hours.
Just about every culture has its Autumn festivals. In China, the Harvest Moon or Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the time when the harvest moon is full in the sky, signaling a time of abundance after the harvest. In America we celebrate the harvest when it is basically over (Thanksgiving). That makes sense to me. So let’s celebrate our harvest (as small as it may be) and rejoice in the abundance in our lives. Sing along with me……………………………..
Shine on, shine on harvest moon,
I ain’t had no lovin’
Since January, February, June or July.
Snow time ain’t no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal.
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