The phrase “once in a Blue Moon” implies something impossibly rare, but the truth is a little more chaotic. The celestial event heading our way on May 31, 2026, isn’t just a quirk of the calendar—it’s actually the result of a decades-old mathematical misunderstanding that the world simply decided to run with.

No, the moon won’t turn a moody shade of sapphire (unlike a Blood Moon, which genuinely blushes red under Earth’s shadow). Instead, we are tracking a quirk of timekeeping, and this year, it comes with a tiny twist.

How the Blue Moon got its name

The phrase, “once in a blue moon,” has debatable origins. The most popular origin is from the 1528 satire Rede Me and Be Nott Wrothe. In it, there’s a phrase, “If they say the moon is blue, we must believe that it is true.” The line was intended to be absurdist, as in, it couldn’t possibly happen.

However, there’s nothing to really connect it to the lunar phenomenon. It wasn’t until 1937 that the Maine Farmer’s Almanac used it to refer to a second full moon in a calendar month.

Another reason it ended up with the name Blue Moon is that, according to the Almanac, it occurred sporadically, and so it couldn’t be given a season-appropriate name, like the other full moons.
So, as it was rare-ish and random thanks to the twelve-month calendar, it ended up with the name, Blue Moon.

How often does a Blue Moon happen?

Well, it depends on which Blue Moon you mean. There’s the monthly Blue Moon, which happens when there’s a second full moon in a single calendar month (like in 2026), and there’s a seasonal Blue Moon, which is the third full moon in an astronomical season that contains four full moons.

Because our calendar months don’t perfectly align with the Moon’s 29.5-day cycle, these “accidental” Blue Moons pop up roughly every 2.7 years. They aren’t magical anomalies; they’re just the universe outrunning our 12-month calendar. Although there are 12 months in a year, there are 13 full moons. However, as many of us know, 13 is considered unlucky.

What’s so special about May’s Blue Moon in 2026?

While a standard Blue Moon happens every few years, the event on May 31 (peaking at 6:45 pm AEST) carries a rare distinction: it is also a Micro Full Moon. Think of it as the opposite of a Supermoon. Because the Moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, it reaches a point furthest from Earth called its apogee. When a full moon hits this exact crest, it appears roughly 14% smaller and dimmer than usual.

Because it is a Micro Moon, it won’t have that dramatic, oversized “moon illusion” as it hugs the horizon. Instead, it will look like a sharp, brilliant, pocket-sized pearl high in the sky. Small but pefectly formed….just like me!!!

As we greet the midway point between spring and summer, celebrating the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane is a joyous way to invite pleasure and connection into our lives.
Beltane, also known as May Day, falls on the first of May. It is a cross-quarter festival that marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. In Celtic traditions, it also means the beginning of the abundant, bright, beautiful summer season.

Beltane and the Hawthorn Tree
Celebrations include decorating the May Tree, usually a hawthorn tree, by dancing around it while holding colorful ribbons. The hawthorn tree is sacred in that it represents the three faces of the Goddess. In the winter, it is gnarled and ancient looking, representing the wisdom of the Crone. In the spring, it bursts with beautiful flowers, representing the fresh possibilities of the Maiden. In the late summer and fall, it produces bright red berries, representing the fertility and abundance of the Mother.

Hawthorn is also known as the Fairy Tree, as it is said to be sacred to the fairy folk. Beltane is one of those times when it is believed that the veils between the worlds, specifically the fairy world and our world, thin a little bit. Treating the hawthorn tree with respect and reverence was a good way to keep the fairies on your side.

Beltane, Bonfires, and Blessings for Marriage
Traditionally, May Day was a time to get out of the house and celebrate with your neighbors. Bonfires were lit, representing the new heat and energy of the summer season, and were walked around or even leapt over for good luck and to cleanse any stagnant energy from the winter season. It was also a time for young people to meet and court so they could be wed in June, the month for marriage (named after Juno, the goddess of marriage, among other things).

Beltane is an ancient festival that is sometimes celebrated by modern pagans. But even without the official name and celebrations of this date, the time of year is powerful, and its spiritual meaning is accessible to anyone who is interested in experiencing it.

The beginning of May feels like a gift for many of us. April showers have mostly finished, and the world takes on an abundance of beauty as sunshine and flowers surround us. We are invited outside to enjoy the bright half of the year, which is a time for connecting with the magic of the natural world, especially that of plants, flowers, animals, the sun, and the earth. It’s a time to reconnect with our bodies, the food we eat, the flowers we smell, the sunshine on our skin, and the sensual joys of being a human being in a body.

How to Celebrate Beltane
Even if you don’t want to jump over a bonfire, decorate a hawthorn tree, or throw flowers over your doorstep, this is a wonderful time of year for small rituals that can help you connect with the spiritual meaning of Beltane. Here are some ideas:

Practice pleasure, especially the kinds of pleasures you can access outside. Go for a walk, smell the flowers, and soak up the sunshine.

Spend time outdoors quietly watching the plants, observing the flowers, and noticing any animals that show up—birds singing, squirrels hunting, or even your cat soaking up a sunbeam.

Move. Move your body in gentle, loving, playful, and intuitive ways. Think of melting any stagnant places where the winter still sits within you.

Eat mindfully, receiving the abundance of the earth.

Enjoy flowers. Observe the flowers that are blooming in your area.  Buy some cut flowers (or even better, a plant!) to place in your home. Invite the energy of color, light, and scent into your environment.