Not surprisingly, the Circle of the Mountain Fire does observe the Full Moons (Esbats) and the eight festivals on the Wheel of the Year (the Sabbats). Every month has a Full Moon or esbat and there is generally one month out of the year that actually has a second Full Moon (Blue Moon).

The names of the Full Moons are:

January: Wolf Moon

Amid the zero cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. It was also known as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. In some tribes this was the Full Snow Moon; most applied that name to the next moon. In addition, much of the Eastern Hemisphere will experience a deep penumbral lunar eclipse with lower part of the moon appearing somewhat darker.

February: Snow Moon

Usually the heaviest snows fall in this month. Hunting becomes very difficult, and hence to some tribes this was the Full Hunger Moon.

March: Worm Moon

In this month the ground softens and the earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter, or the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation.

April: Pink Moon

The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names were the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and — among coastal tribes — the Full Fish Moon, when the shad came upstream to spawn. This is also the Paschal Full Moon; the first full moon of the spring season. The first Sunday following the Paschal Moon is Easter Sunday.

May: Flower Moon

Flowers are abundant everywhere. It was also known as the Full Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon.

June: Strawberry Moon

Known to every Algonquin tribe. Europeans called it the Rose Moon.

July: Buck Moon

When the new antlers of buck deer push out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, thunderstorms being now most frequent. Sometimes this is also called the Full Hay Moon.

August: Sturgeon Moon

This time of year, this large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water like Lake Champlain is most readily caught. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because the moon rises looking reddish through sultry haze. Other variations include the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.

September: Corn Moon

Sometimes also called the Fruit Moon; such monikers were used for a Full Moon that occurs during the first week of September, so as to keep the Harvest Moon from coming too early in the calendar.

October: Hunter's Moon

With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it is time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox, also other animals, which have come out to glean and can be caught for a thanksgiving banquet after the harvest. This is the second time the Moon turns full in a calendar month, so it is also popularly known as a Blue Moon. Full moons occur on average each 29.53 days (the length of the synodic month), or 12.3683 times per year; so months containing two full moons occur on average every 2.72 years, or every 2 years plus 8 or 9 months.

November: Beaver Moon

Now it is time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Moon come from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter. This is also called the Frosty Moon. There is also a penumbral lunar eclipse with this full moon; observers across North America might notice the upper part of the moon appearing slightly darker as nearly 83% of the moon's diameter becomes immersed in the fainter penumbral shadow of earth.

December: Cold Moon

December is usually considered the month that the winter cold begins to fasten its grip in the Northern Hemisphere. This month's full moon is also called the Long Night Moon since nights are at their longest and darkest. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and the moon is above the horizon a long time. The midwinter full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun.

Sabbats

The eight Wiccan Sabbats include:

• Yule (December 23rd) is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The Goddess gives birth (rebirth) to Her Son (the return of the Sun the next day and the days starting to get long).

• Imbolg (February Eve) is the first Sabbat of the calendar year and marks the first Sabbat where you can actually see the difference in the growing days from when they were at the shortest at Yule. This is a time for purification, making candles, and rededication.

• Ostara/ Vernal Equinox (March 23^rd ) celebrates the return of Spring. There is a balance between the day and night, the Sun and the Moon. Life is returning as evidence by the awakening of plants outside. Rabbits and the green grass in Easter baskets actually symbolize the renewal of life here.

• Beltane/ Lady's Day (May Eve) celebrates the return of fertility. The religious focus is upon the courtship of the God and Goddess of Nature.

• Litha/Summer Solstice (midsummer - June 23^rd ) is the longest day of the year. This the time for the wedding of the God and Goddess.

• Lammas/Lughnassadh (August Eve) is the celebration of the first harvest, the harvest of grains.

• Mabon/Autumn Equinox (September 23^rd) is the celebration of the Pagan Thanksgiving and is the time of the second harvest, the harvest of fruits and vegetables.

• Samhain (November Eve) is the celebration of the new year to come and the third harvest, the "harvest" of animals for meat for the cold winter months to come. The veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest and it is a good time for communicating with our ancestors and for divination.