This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.

Since the heaviest snow usually falls during February, hunting and foraging for food becomes very difficult. The full moon in February in some tribes is referred to as Snow moon,  while other North American tribes named it the Hunger Moon due to the scarce food sources and hard hunting conditions during mid-winter, while others named it the Storm Moon. 

Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside villages. Their voices resonate against the snow banks and crisp air of January. Wolves howl to communicate.  During the denning season in spring and early summer, wolves only howl to pack mates. As the late summer moves towards fall, wolves call more and more to neighbors and enemies. Wolves are particularly vocal in the first months of the year, as this is their breeding season, and their cry attracts mates to breed. Their breeding howl is much longer than their howl hear at other times of the year, which is probably why people associated the month of January with howling wolves. 

The January full moon is also a Supermoon. A full Moon is said to be a “Supermoon” when it is at the point in its orbit closest to the Earth. 

Broad Street's first appearance in Milwaukee since the days of Art vs. Craft. Looking forward to rekindling my love in Milwaukee and bringing it to the streets. Stay tuned for more details or check out Maker Market directly for location and other list of vendors.