Full Moon field guide · UK dates
The Cold Moon
A plain seasonal name for the cold, long nights around the beginning of northern winter.
What Cold Moon means
Cold Moon is December's familiar almanac name. Long Night Moon and Moon Before Yule are alternatives that emphasise the same position near the winter solstice.
This is usually one of the year's highest full-Moon paths over the UK and can remain above the horizon for a long winter night.
Next UK occurrence
Thu, 24 Dec 2026
Exact full Moon: . Brown lunation 1286.
Three-year almanac
Cold Moon dates, 2026–2028
| Year | UK date and time | Lunation | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1286 | Open month | |
| 2027 | 1298 | Open month | |
| 2028 | 1310 | Open month | |
| 2028 | 1311 | Open month |
02
What to notice from the UK
Use the high lunar path to observe from a site with less concern about low buildings or trees, but allow for glare from the bright disc.
The disc looks full on the nights around the exact instant. A low Moon may look larger or warmer because of perspective and the atmosphere, not because its phase changed.
03
Other recorded labels
Almanacs do not share one universal naming system. This month is also listed as Before Yule in an Old English grouping and Cold Moon in a modern Celtic-revival grouping.