Full Moons: What's in a Name? [from National Geographic]
For millennia, humans have used the movement of the moon to keep track of the passing year and set schedules for hunting, planting, and harvesting. Ancient cultures the world over have given these full moons names based on the behavior of the plants, animals, or weather during that month.
DECEMBER: COLD MOON
The coming of winter earned December's full moon the name cold moon. Other names include the long night moon and the oak moon.
JANUARY: WOLF MOON
Native Americans and medieval Europeans named January's full moon after the howling of hungry wolves lamenting the midwinter paucity of food. Other names for this month's full moon include old moon and ice moon.