Moon Myths and Superstitions

The moon cycles from the darkest point, known as a new moon, to a bright round full moon approximately every 30 days.

Weather:
- When the moon points up, the weather will be good, when it points down, it will rain
- When a large star, or planet, is near the moon, the weather will be violent
- Fog and a small moon bring an easterly winds

Tides:
- When the moon is low, the tides will be higher than normal
- When the moon is at its brightest, the tides are high
- Deaths occur most often when the tide is going out, and births occur when the tide is coming in

Good Luck:
- People once believed the moon was made of silver, so they would ask the moon for help and jingle the change in their pockets, as they gazed at it's glory.
- Legend says that to cure warts, catch some moonbeams in a metal basin and wash your hands in it, saying "I wash my hands in thy dish, 'O man in the moon, do grant my wish, and come and take this away"

Bad Luck:
- It was thought that to sleep in direct moonlight caused madness or blindness.
- In time, the word, Lunatic, from "luna", meaning moon, and "tic", meaning struck, evolved from this belief.