From sweet to silly, attempt these at your own risk
Dogs are known to howl more during the full moon, but one study published in the British Medical Journal stated that bites from animals were twice as frequent in an emergency room during a full moon.
The full moon is often associated with temporal insomnia, which would be obvious in the past when the light was so bright. However now, with screens everywhere, it's less believable.
The myth of the full moon causing epileptic seizures persists, so much so that Dr. Selim Benbadis, associate professor of neurology at the USF College of Medicine, attempted to find a scientific correlation. The 2004 study found no links.
A common superstition suggests that more babies are born during the full moon than on other nights, though it lacks any scientific proof.
In a study from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg, researchers found a connection between cycles of the moon and sleepers’ sensitivity to disturbances, with high cerebral cortex activity and more REM sleep recorded during the full moon—even though participants were in windowless rooms.
A 2019 study, which found no correlation between the full moon and mental health, described why unfounded superstitions persist, calling it “a primal, emotional desire to believe that we are not solely responsible for our own behaviors.”
A study of 13,029 motorcyclists killed in nighttime crashes found that there were 5.3% more fatalities on nights with a full moon compared to other nights. The authors, however, believed it was due to visual distractions created by the moon.
Moon myths aren’t completely false, however, and current researchers on the lunar cycle’s effects on humans say skepticism comes from awareness of historical myths and legends. There is apparently more of an effect than we think.
For astrologists, the full moon's energy makes it a good time for releasing and manifesting, cleansing past regrets and setting new goals.
Many theories from ancient civilizations link the phases of the moon (about 29.5 days) with women's menstrual cycles (about 28 days). Despite this coincidence, there is no evidence of a significant link.
The full moon is reportedly considered unlucky if it occurs on Sunday, but lucky if it occurs on Monday. The name of Monday has roots in an Old English word that means "moon day."
With many linking women’s fertility and menstruation to the lunar cycle, it follows that many also believe the moon can actually increase your libido and energy.
The Moon has long held a mystical place in cultures all over the world, specifically when it’s full and at its brightest. It occurs every approximately 29.5 days, carrying the legacy of various myths, tales, and superstitions, and despite having done very extensive research and reaching very limited conclusions, this mystical phenomenon still has people tensing up and doing other strange things when it inevitably arrives once a month.
Click through to see the various fascinating beliefs about the moon’s effects down on Earth, on which scientists, astronomers, scholars, and regular folk can’t quite seem to agree.
Strange beliefs about the full moon
From libido to lunacy, how is the full moon affecting you?
LIFESTYLE Full moon
The Moon has long held a mystical place in cultures all over the world, specifically when it’s full and at its brightest. It occurs every approximately 29.5 days, carrying the legacy of various myths, tales, and superstitions, and despite having done very extensive research and reaching very limited conclusions, this mystical phenomenon still has people tensing up and doing other strange things when it inevitably arrives once a month.
Click through to see the various fascinating beliefs about the moon’s effects down on Earth, on which scientists, astronomers, scholars, and regular folk can’t quite seem to agree.