Wolf Moon lights up sky

By Lethbridge Herald on January 5, 2026.

By Joe Manio

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald

Southern Alberta skies lit up this weekend as the  Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2026, rose brilliantly over the prairie Saturday. Shining brighter than usual and steeped in winter folklore, the lunar spectacle drew the eyes of farmers, photographers and stargazers alike turning quiet fields into a front-row seat for one of nature’s most enduring shows.

“Wolf Moon” is the traditional name for the January full moon and is rooted in old Indigenous, Celtic, and early English naming traditions — possibly linked to wolves howling in mid-winter (in these parts it would be coyotes).

This Wolf Moon was also the first of the three supermoons of 2026, meaning it occurs when the Moon was near its closest point to Earth (perigee) making it appear slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon.

It was visible across much of the world on the nights of Jan. 2–3 with especially striking views at moonrise and during the night was visible even without telescopes or fancy equipment.

Winter full moons appear higher and brighter, staying up longer due to the Earth’s tilt away from the sun making nights feel less dark and offering extended light for activities, with names like December’s Cold Moon, January’s high-riding Wolf Moon, and March’s Worm Moon reflecting the season’s characteristics.

For millennia full moons have carried strong symbolic meaning across cultures—often tied to timekeeping, nature, and human behavior. Common worldwide themes include completion and power with the full moon representing wholeness, climax or fulfillment.

Before the advent of artificial lighting full moons were literally “light in darkness” enabling travel, hunting, and night gatherings; and change and cycles where its monthly rhythm symbolized renewal, transformation, and fate.

In indigenous cultures the moon served as seasonal markers guiding agriculture, hunting, and ceremonies. In storytelling each moon name carried lessons about nature and community responsibility. And in spiritual balance the moon was often seen as a teacher or guardian rather than something ominous.

The Wolf Moon kicks off a year with 13 full moons in 2026 and is included in  several notable lunar events like the lunar eclipse.

For stargazers who want to mark their calendars, these are the names and dates of the remaining full moons of 2026: the Snow Moon on Feb 1 and the Worm Moon (with total lunar eclipse) on March 3.

The Spring full moons are the Pink Moon on April 1st and  the Flower Moon on May 1 the second May full moon – the Blue Moon on May 31. 

Speaking of “blue moons”,the phrase “once in a blue moon” dates back to the 16th century, originally meaning something absurd or impossible. Over time it came to describe rare events, and in the 20th century it became linked to astronomy through a popular but mistaken definition of a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. 

Summer has three full moons: the Strawberry Moon on June 29, the Buck Moon on July 29 and the Sturgeon Moon, with partial lunar eclipse, on Aug 28. 

The Fall full moons are the Harvest Moon on September 26 and the Hunter’s Moon on October 26.

Last and definitely not least, the next supermoons occur during the last two months of 2026 and are the Beaver Moon on Nov. 24 and the Cold Moon on Christmas Eve.

In rural Alberta, where dark skies still stretch wide and clear, full moons and supermoons are more than calendar dates—they’re bright reminders of the natural rhythms that have guided farmers, travelers, and storytellers for generations, rising steadily over fields, fences, and open prairie.