Halloween Will Have a Rare Blue Moon This Year, Because 2020

Now that Labor Day is over, it’s officially Halloween season, am I right? While it’s a bit uncertain what trick-or-treating will look like this year, science confirms that Halloween 2020 will be spookier than ever. (Thanks 2020! We would not expect anything less than maximum weirdness!) The reason? Not only will there be a full moon on Halloween night, it will be a rare blue moon.

What exactly is a blue moon, besides the title of a catchy old song?

Well, it’s what the second full moon in a month is called. It’s so rare to have two full moons in the same month that it only occurs every three years or so, hence the saying, “once in a blue moon.”

Also? Apparently a blue moon isn’t even necessarily blue! Wikipedia says:

The phrase in modern usage has nothing to do with the actual color of the moon, although a visually blue moon (the moon appearing with a bluish tinge) may occur under certain atmospheric conditions—for instance, if volcanic eruptions or fires release particles in the atmosphere of just the right size to preferentially scatter red light.^[1]

Despite the potential lack of blue color, having this rare moon on Halloween is great because it is also a full moon, which means visibility for trick-or-treating will be better and safer! If your kids are old enough, observing the blue moon together on Halloween night will also make a great science lesson, because there won’t be another one on Halloween night until 2039.

RELATED: Our Favorite Halloween Costumes For the Entire Family

In true 2020 fashion, the blue moon isn’t the only thing that makes this upcoming Halloween rare.

It also occurs on a Saturday, which is great news for parents and teachers alike, as kids don’t have to get up for school in the morning after a late night of sugar consumption. But what makes it even more crazy is that it’s also the night we set our clocks back, making Halloween 2020 a full twenty-five hours long instead of twenty-four.

Y’all. It’s a Halloween weirdness TRIFECTA!

RELATED: 5 Ways To (Still!) Celebrate Halloween at Home

But what else would you expect from the year that has brought us a pandemic, wildfires, a record number of hurricanes, a Derecho in Iowa, and of course, murder hornets?

Well played, 2020! 

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

Order Now!

Articles by Jenny Rapson

Jenny Rapson

Jenny Rapson is a follower of Christ, a wife and mom of three from Ohio and a freelance writer and editor. You can find her at her blog, Mommin' It Up, or follow her on Twitter.