‘Once in a Blue Moon’or ‘On a rainy day' is how we describe a special moment that does not happen every day. (Wait, what am I saying, rain regularly falls on this island, even during drought, so the last saying mostly apply to South Africa)
Anyways, Friday August 31 was such a day, as it was "Blue Moon".
But where does the term come from? There is so much mystery linked to the Blue Moon and its origin. There are two official definitions for a Blue Moon:
Number 1: A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month.
The idea of a Blue Moon as the second full moon in a month stemmed from an article by James Hugh Pruett called "Once in a Blue Moon" in the March 1946 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine. Pruett used the 1937 Maine Farmer's Almanac to formulate and substantiated his definition as follow:
"Seven times in 19 years there were - and still are - 13 full moons in a year. In this gives us 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon "
This definition was then used by scientists in the seventies on the radio, the eighties as prescribed books for toddlers and it was even used as the official definition for the board game Trivial Pursuit.
But could there be two Blue Moons in the same month? Well in 1999 there was great public interest and media coverage after January and March both had two full moons in the same month, but no full moon in February. The next year when there will be double Blue Moons in the same year is 2018.
Number 2: A blue moon is the third full moon of four in a calendar year:
Scientists and scholars waved their index fingers at the first definition and used the same source to formulate their own as follow. Each season (Winter, Spring, Fall and Summer) normally has three full moons, but when one has a fourth full moon, the third may be called a Blue Moon. The next Blue Moon by this definition will be on 21.08.2013.
Of course there is also a third type of Blue Moon and the one that most of us romantically associate with the term. This is when you get to see an actual blue moon. Yes, a real blue moon! It has no mysterious or healing powers and usually occurs after large forest fires or a volcanic eruption, where the air is filled with ash and dust. If the particles in the air are the right size - about 1 micron wide (one millionth of a meter) it act as a color filter and give the moon a blue tinge. Clouds of water droplets, ice crystals or fine-grained sand can do the same.
Well, as I said Friday, 31.8.12 was a 'Blue Moon' and a day I will never forget, as it was the launch of my first book on Amazon. I later realize the value of the term and had to wonder how many people could say (perhaps unwittingly as in my case) that they have done something special or even received something on this unusual day. Who could say, "Oh it does not happen often, only 'Once in a Blue moon'.
For most South Africans, the Blue Moon brought excitement; it announced the first day of Spring and later South Africa won six medals at the Paralympic Games, world records were smashed again, but around the world it was a mixture of moods, for some the Blue Moon brought Peace, Excitement and Happiness, but for others it was Fear, Anxiety and Sadness, but also Hope that tomorrow might be a better day.
After realizing that it was Blue Moon, I walked out like many others to have a look at the moon. Some could stare at her gorgeous glow, but others had to search, it was a bit overcast ...
This is a translation of my article published in The South African on 05/09/2012.
For info and writing news, please visit my website.
But where does the term come from? There is so much mystery linked to the Blue Moon and its origin. There are two official definitions for a Blue Moon:
Number 1: A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month.
The idea of a Blue Moon as the second full moon in a month stemmed from an article by James Hugh Pruett called "Once in a Blue Moon" in the March 1946 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine. Pruett used the 1937 Maine Farmer's Almanac to formulate and substantiated his definition as follow:
"Seven times in 19 years there were - and still are - 13 full moons in a year. In this gives us 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon "
This definition was then used by scientists in the seventies on the radio, the eighties as prescribed books for toddlers and it was even used as the official definition for the board game Trivial Pursuit.
But could there be two Blue Moons in the same month? Well in 1999 there was great public interest and media coverage after January and March both had two full moons in the same month, but no full moon in February. The next year when there will be double Blue Moons in the same year is 2018.
Number 2: A blue moon is the third full moon of four in a calendar year:
Scientists and scholars waved their index fingers at the first definition and used the same source to formulate their own as follow. Each season (Winter, Spring, Fall and Summer) normally has three full moons, but when one has a fourth full moon, the third may be called a Blue Moon. The next Blue Moon by this definition will be on 21.08.2013.
Of course there is also a third type of Blue Moon and the one that most of us romantically associate with the term. This is when you get to see an actual blue moon. Yes, a real blue moon! It has no mysterious or healing powers and usually occurs after large forest fires or a volcanic eruption, where the air is filled with ash and dust. If the particles in the air are the right size - about 1 micron wide (one millionth of a meter) it act as a color filter and give the moon a blue tinge. Clouds of water droplets, ice crystals or fine-grained sand can do the same.
Well, as I said Friday, 31.8.12 was a 'Blue Moon' and a day I will never forget, as it was the launch of my first book on Amazon. I later realize the value of the term and had to wonder how many people could say (perhaps unwittingly as in my case) that they have done something special or even received something on this unusual day. Who could say, "Oh it does not happen often, only 'Once in a Blue moon'.
For most South Africans, the Blue Moon brought excitement; it announced the first day of Spring and later South Africa won six medals at the Paralympic Games, world records were smashed again, but around the world it was a mixture of moods, for some the Blue Moon brought Peace, Excitement and Happiness, but for others it was Fear, Anxiety and Sadness, but also Hope that tomorrow might be a better day.
After realizing that it was Blue Moon, I walked out like many others to have a look at the moon. Some could stare at her gorgeous glow, but others had to search, it was a bit overcast ...
This is a translation of my article published in The South African on 05/09/2012.
For info and writing news, please visit my website.
