Every year in April, the famous "full pink moon" returns to the sky. But contrary to what its name suggests, it will not be pink. Explanations on this name as poetic as it is misleading.
Every full moon in April, eyes turn to the sky with the same expectation: to see a star with pink hues. However, year after year, disappointment is there for observers. Because no, the Moon does not turn pink. If the star is nicknamed "full pink moon", this name does not actually refer to its color, but to a very specific spring symbol, inherited from ancient traditions.
According to the Weather Channel, this name comes from Amerindian traditions, then popularized in Europe. It refers to the flowering of the moss phlox (Phlox subulata), a small pink flower that is very common in early spring. This period marks the renewal of nature, which naturally inspired this name. Other names exist depending on the culture, such as "Moon of germinations", "Moon of the grass that grows" or "Easter Moon", because it is used to determine the date of this religious holiday.
