by Sid Baglini
Monday, November 27, 2023, 7:15 P.M.
We will be walking under the last Full Moon of autumn which is commonly known as the Full Beaver Moon. The harvest Is over and all creatures are set for the scarcity or winter. ThIs is when the indigenous tribes observed the beavers retreating to their lodges where they stockpiled branches to nibble through the coming months. It was also the time when trappers hunted for beavers whose winter-ready pelts were thick and lustrous, sure to bring the best prices.
Of course, other names were also given to this lunar month, all of which in some way reflected seasonal realities. The Digging or Scratching Moon captures the actions of critters from mice to bears who were anxiously collecting and/or consuming what food they could find before the barren winter months. The Lakota called it the Deer Rutting Moon since November mating activities were a prelude to the fawns of spring. If we were similarly inclined to naming Full Moons, we would appropriately call this the Car Collisions Moon, given the increased number of accidents caused by distracted deer in the throes of rutting season. Be careful out there, folks! Finally, the Frost Moon and the Freezing Moon describe the return of chilly nights and the rapid approach of winter’s perils.
With the summer humidity behind us, this is a wonderful time for viewing planets. If the skies are clear, we’ll see both Jupiter and Saturn on our walk. If you have a good pair of binoculars, bring them along to get a magnified view of the Moon’s surface and our two planet companions.
November has two meteor showers. The Taurids peaks early in the month (11th and 12th) and Leonids, which peaks on the 18th and 19th. Our walk will not coincide with these events but we’ll keep an eye out for a stray “shooting star”.
Please plan to join this congenial group for a lively walk under the Full Beaver Moon. I’m eager to see you all after my 5 month absence and to enthusiastically thank the good folks who have volunteered their time to keep the Moon Walks going in my absence. *It takes a village” is a fitting motto for Malvern’s Moon Walk and I’m grateful for all the help. We meet by the chairs behind Borough Hall and parking is always available along 1st Avenue and Channing Avenue.
Come out to Burke Park on Saturday, November 25th (tomorrow) to hear the
Malvern Arts Community Choir!
The choir will sing from 4:10-4:25 as part of the Borough’s Christmas on King program.