In days of old, why might you find people doing a moondance if their treasured timepiece had a working moon dial?
It’s simple: in the early 1700s, there were no street lights, so a full, or nearly full moon provided light at night. And then there were the ship captains who needed to know the moon phases because of the impact the moon had on the tides. These men were making a living on the sea and needed to strategically coordinate their schedules and sailing times, based on the tides. That way, they could determine prime times for loading and unloading their vessels.
The farmers planted crops according to the phases of the moon. The best time for planting “above ground” crops (lettuce, beans, barley, wheat) was during a waxing moon, while “below ground” crops (potatoes, turnips, beets) fared better after a full moon when the moon was waning.
So what are the phases of the moon? There’s the “new moon” when you don’t see any moon in the sky. As it starts “waxing” or gaining visibility, you go from a sliver to a half moon, which curiously is called the “First Quarter.” Next, there’s the full moon, which needs no explanation. We all know how the full moon often brings out strange behaviors in people. From there, the moon moves to the “Last Quarter,” which is a half moon from the other side. And finally, there is the sliver of a “waning” moon.
So remember — if you’re ever planning a moondance you want the world to see, be sure you check the moon phases for that full moon. That way, people won’t find it strange at all — and might even join in the dance.