Resource: Werewolf: The Apocalypse

A Garou Calendar

Werewolves are creatures governed by the moon yet our Gregorian Calendar is both a religious and agricultural calendar based on the sun. I thought that it would be more appropriate for the Garou to use a different time referencing. Here is an example of a lunar calendar

Honey Moon, Waxing 11-24 June, 2002, Waning 24 June - 10 July, 2002
Thunder Moon, Waxing 10-24 July, 2002, Waning 24 July - 8 August, 2002
Barley Moon, Waxing 8 - 22 August, 2002, Waning 22 August - 7 September, 2002
Harvest Moon, Waxing 7 - 21 September, 2002, Waning 21 September - 6 October, 2002
Hunter's Moon, Waxing 6 - 21 October, 2002, Waning 21 October - 4 November, 2002
Owl Moon, Waxing 4 - 20 November, 2002, Waning 20 November - 4 December, 2002
Long Night Moon, 4 - 19 December, 2002, Waning 19 December 2002 - 2 January 2003
Ice Moon, Waxing 2 - 18 January 2003, Waning 18 January - 1 February 2003
Moon of Winds, Waxing 1 - 16 February 2003, Waning 16 February - 3 March 2003
Hare Moon, Waxing 3 - 18 March 2003, Waning 18 March - 1 April 2003
Rain Moon, Waxing 1 - 16 April 2003, Waning 16 April - 1 May 2003
Blossum Moon, Waxing 1 - 16 May 2003, Waning 16 - 31 May 2003
Honey Moon, Waxing 31 May - 14 June 2003, Waning 14 - 29 June 2003

[Incidentally, one thing I love about this is that I was born under a Hunter's Moon and my name, Nimrod, means "a mighty hunter" - how cool is that!]

Of course, there are other names for these moons, such as Wolf Moon (January), Storm or Snow Moon (February), Chaste or Worm Moon (March), Seed or Pink Moon (April), Hare or Flower Moon (May), Dyad or Strawberry Moon (June), Mead or Buck Moon (July), Wort or Sturgeon Moon (August), Barley Moon (September), Blood Moon (October), Snow or Beaver Moon (November), Oak or Cold Moon (December), Wine Moon (Blue Moon).

[And for those wondering, a "Blue Moon" is the second full moon in a calendar month, which happens in about 41 months per century, that's about every two and a half years, hence "once in a blue moon".]

Now I'd figure that the Garou might have their own names for the moons, and an added bunch of associations. Essentially, the moons would always revolve around the seasons and associations with that time of year. Since, with the departure of the Stargazers, there are 12 tribes I thought it would make sense for the Western Garou to have associated the different moons to the different tribal totems. The Stargazers, I figured, would take the Blue Moons (someone has to - but there is more to it than that).

Most traditional calendars began with either spring or summer rather than in the middle of winter, so I figured that the Garou might begin their calendar in June also. To a practical degree they would have probably shared the names of the moons with whatever culture they belonged to, but amongst the Garou themselves they may have had their own special names. The associations below would not have existed, say, a century ago or during the Dark Ages since the Garou Nation was very different. However, the principles may still be the same.

Summer - representing the First Days, the days to be Honoured

Falcon Moon (June), the beginning of summer, represents the Golden Age in the Garou's legendary history, when the First Wolf was born and stood proud and strong.
Thunder Moon (July), represents a time of power and coming into power, yet can be read as a portent to trouble on the horizon.
Pegasus Moon (August), represents protection and protecting that which we hold dear. A reminder that the storms are coming and that we must not be complacant in basking in our the sunshine for too long, lest we get burnt. It is a time for preparation.

Autumn / Fall - representing the Impergium, the days of Wisdom

Rat Moon (September), represents the coming of the humans and the beginnings of the war against Man.
Griffin Moon (October), represents the hunting of Man as the claws of Wolf is soaked in the blood of Man.
Owl Moon (November), represents the dark time in which realisation hit Wolf and the dawning of wisdom.

Winter - representing the War of Rage, the days of Shame

Cockroach Moon (December), represents the changing of the ages, the death before rebirth and survival in an uncertain future.
Fenrir's Moon (January), represents the claws of Wolf as he struck against the other Beasts in a cold and desperate time, but it also represents war and strength (especially when the Get tell it).
Wendigo Moon (February), represents the winds of change, the eventual understanding of differing cultures, the end of darkness and the coming into the light. And in the light of day, can we stand to look at our deeds in the night?

Spring - representing the Final Days, the days of Glory

Stag Moon (March), represents the beginning anew rejuvination and refertalisation of the once dead ground, toiling in the hopes of a better winter.
Unicorn Moon (April), represents a time of healing, taking stock of the damage of the winter and seeking to repair it to strengthen the old and invigorate the new, a time to learn from our mistakes.
Uktena Moon (May), represents the unknown mysteries of what may lay ahead. We plant our seeds but we do not know what the crop will be until the harvest.

Blue Moon

Chimera's Moon (Blue Moon), represents the dreams of Gaia and Garou alike and the ever elusive and perplexing enigmas that they present.