The Buck Moon and its Significance to Native American Peoples

Did you know that the moon, including July’s Buck Moon, was used alongside the stars by Native American peoples as a calendar and as a storytelling tool? The name Buck Moon originated in the Farmer’s Almanac in the 1800s, and is believed to be of indigenous origin. July’s full moon rises at the time when male deer regrow their antlers, and since deer were an important food source for Native American peoples such as the Cherokee, their antlers were often regarded as a good luck symbol for a successful hunt. In addition to using the Moon as a calendar, Native Americans used the stars as a map, but we are unable to see the night sky the same way that they did due to light pollution.