Why December’s Full Moon is a Supermoon and Called the Cold Moon
Rising during the darkest nights of the year, the Full Cold Supermoon of December 2026 arrives on December 23—just after the winter solstice and right before Christmas. Brighter and closer than a typical full Moon, it illuminates early winter skies while echoing ancient traditions tied to cold, snow, and long nights.
When to See December’s Full Moon
The Full Cold Moon will be 100% illuminated on Wednesday December 23 at 8:28 P.M. EST. For the most dramatic view, watch just after moonrise, when the Moon appears larger near the horizon—a phenomenon called the “Moon illusion.” Clear skies and minimal light pollution will make it easier to appreciate the Moon’s brightness and detail. Check your local times with our Moon Rise Calculator.
Why December’s Full Moon Is a Supermoon
December’s Full Cold Moon orbits closer to Earth than any of the other Full Moons this year, making it one of the three Supermoons of 2026! At its nearest point, the Beaver Moon will be 221,667 miles (356,740 kilometers) from Earth… this is the closest Supermoon of the year!
Supermoon is a catchy term for what astronomers call a perigean Full Moon, which is when the Full Moon happens at or near its closest point to Earth in its oval-shaped orbit. While a Supermoon is technically bigger and brighter than a regular Full Moon, it only appears about 7% larger—which can be an imperceptible difference to the human eye, depending on other conditions.
Why Is It Called the Cold Moon?
The Moon names we use in The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from centuries of Native American, colonial, and European traditions. December’s Full Moon is most commonly called the Cold Moon (Mohawk), reflecting the frigid season. It is also known as the Long Night Moon (Mohican) because it rises during the longest nights of the year, near the winter solstice, and remains above the horizon for an extended period.
Other traditional names that highlight the cold and snow include:
- Drift Clearing Moon (Cree)
- Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree)
- Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala)
- Hoar Frost Moon (Cree)
- Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee)
- Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki)
- Moon When the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota)
- Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe)
In Europe, ancient pagans called it the “Moon Before Yule” in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun. → See a full calendar year of full Moon names and their meanings.
Moon Phases for December 2026
Below are the dates and times (in Eastern Time) of the Moon’s phases in December. Click here to see the Moon phase dates and times for your location.
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: December 1, 1:08 A.M. |
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: December 8, 7:52 P.M. |
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: December 17, 12:42 A.M. |
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: December 23, 8:28 P.M. |
| Last Quarter: December 30, 1:59 P.M. |
Consult our Full Moon Dates chart for the next full Moon in your area.
Best Days in December 2026
Based on the Moon’s phase and sign:
- Harvesting: Aboveground crops: 20, 21 | Belowground crops: 1, 2, 28, 29
- Setting Eggs: 21-23, 30, 31
- Fishing: 8-23
See Best Days for more activities.
Moon Folklore
“If a snowstorm begins when the Moon is young, it will cease at moonrise.”
Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!
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