Harvest Moon A New Beginning Gardening Tour Themes

September's full Harvest Moon reaches its peak on Monday, September 20, 2021. Learn how the Harvest Moon got its name—plus, see Moon phase dates, Best Days by the Moon, folklore, and more!

When to See the Full Moon in September 2021

This year, look for September's full Harvest Moon to rise in the southeast just after sunset on Monday, September 20—just two days before the fall equinox! This full Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:54 P.M. Eastern Time on the 20th.

Why Is It Called the Harvest Moon?

The full Moon names used byThe Old Farmer's Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all of the Moon's phases—not only the full Moon. The Harvest Moon, however, is a bit different!

The Harvest Moon

The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) always takes on the name "Harvest Moon." Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive. Read more about the Harvest Moon!

While September's full Moon is usually known as the Harvest Moon, if October's full Moon happens to occur closer to the equinox than September's, it takes on the name "Harvest Moon" instead. In this case, September's full Moon is referred to as the Corn Moon.

Harvest moon with plane flying in front of it

The Corn Moon

This time of year—late summer into early fall—corresponds with the time of harvesting corn in much of the northern United States. For this reason, a number of Native American peoples traditionally used some variation of the name "Corn Moon" to refer to the Moon of either August or September. Examples includeCorn Maker Moon (Western Abenaki) and Corn Harvest Moon (Dakota).

Alternative September Moon Names

Other Moon names for this month highlight how September is the transitional period between summer and fall:

Autumn Moon (Cree)
Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe)
Leaves Turning Moon (Anishinaabe)
Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
Yellow Leaf Moon (Assiniboine)

The behavior of animals is also a common theme, with Child Moon (Tlingit) referring to the time when young animals are weaned, and Mating Moon and Rutting Moon (both Cree) describing the time of year when certain animals, like moose, elk, and deer, are looking to mate.

Read more about full Moon names and their traditional meanings here.

Moon Phases for September 2021

Here are Moon phase dates and times (EDT) for the month of September. Check our Moon Phase Calendar for dates and times in your city.

Moon Phases for September 2021
	New Moon: September 6, 8:52 P.M. EDT
	First Quarter: September 13, 4:41 P.M. EDT
	Full Moon: September 20, 7:54 P.M. EDT
	Last Quarter: September 28, 9:58 P.M. EDT

When is the next full Moon? Consult our Full Moon Calendar to find out.

September Full Moon Video

Why does the Moon ride high or low in the sky? Find out the answer to this question—and learn more about September's Full Moon—in this entertaining video.

Photo Credit: Almanac reader, Robin Osbon

Best Days in September 2021

Below are the best days for activities, based on the Moon's sign and phase in September.

Activity	Best Days
Harvesting aboveground crops	14, 15
Harvesting belowground crops	23–25
Canning and Pickling	1, 2, 28–30
Fishing	6–20

→See Best Days for more activities.

Moon Facts& Folklore

Usually, the Moon rises about 50 minutes later each day, but around the time of the autumnal equinox, it rises only around 30 minutes later in the United States—even less in Canada.
Frost occurring in the dark of the moon kills fruit buds and blossoms, but frost in the light of the moon will not.

Are you a full Moon lover? Share your thoughts below!