Wolf moon

The moon tonight, which is the first full moon of the new year, will also be the largest of the year, according to online science news. That's because the moon's orbit will bring it to the closest point to earth, right as it is in full moon phase.

And the name, Wolf moon? It's of Native American origin, according to the Farmers' Almanac:

Full Wolf Moon - January: Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Native American villages. Thus, the name for January's full moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next moon.

Do full moons cause craziness? Some people swear it does. Many moons ago when I worked in an ER, we tried to track whether patients and other things during our shift became crazier during full moons. It didn't prove to be true, at least through our research. We just had cycles of crazy, regardless of the phase of the moon.

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.
~ Irish blessing