I don’t know about anyone else, but it was quite common when I was growing up to hear someone say that something only happened ‘once in a blue moon.’ Basically it meant it never happened.
But it wasn’t just a popular saying in my neck of the woods, not if the music industry is anything to judge by. Like to slow dance with your sweetheart? Earl Thomas Conley’s Once In a Blue Moon, or Blue Moon (sung by various artists) are great choices for some romantic bonding time.
And at least one author managed to work phrase into the title of her book…
Earlier this week I was chatting with someone about studies done to prove – or disprove – effects that a full moon may -or may not – have on people. Police officers and hospital personnel think there’s something to it. Many experts disagree.
So I did what I usually do when I have a question about something… Yeah, you already know, don’t you? I Googled it.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that something I thought was just an old saying is actually based on something real.
Yes, it’s true…blue moons are real. No, I didn’t pay a heck of a lot of attention in science class. Probably because I’d never seen a blue moon. And likely never will – unless I break my ‘no drugs’ lifestyle.
Blue moons aren’t actually blue, that’s just what it’s called when two full moons occur in one month. Because they are separated by 29 days, every two and a half years or so there will be two full moons in the same month.
Changes in the atmosphere can make it appear as though the moon changes color though. I think we’ve all seen it just above the horizon, huge and orange. If you want to find out why that happens, watch one of my favorite movies. The answer is at the end. Even if you don’t want to know the answer, or know it already, it’s well worth your time. Aside from staring the love of my life, Bruce Willis, it’s just a really heartwarming story.
At least now we know that the phrase, ‘once in a blue moon’ really does mean that something only happens once in awhile.
Kristy, for a fun twist on this, check out “Blued Moon,” a short story by Connie Willis. It has lots of language jokes, but its premise revolves around the blue moon.
Reblogged this on Espacio de MANON.
My girlfriend says she gets more twitchy on a full moon. She’ll feel it before she’s aware of the moon cycle. I had done all this moon cycle (Blue moon specifically) research a while back in regards to celtic religion. Interesting stuff.
How did I miss that post? You do a whole lot more research than I do and I could have saved myself some time and reblogged that one, lol. Would have fit in with my week a lot better than writing anything. I need a vacation. Maybe a cruise. 🙂
I first heard Blue Moon on Grease.
Hmm. I haven’t watched that in awhile. Guess I’m going to have to hunt it up because, now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m going to have to watch it again. 🙂
My husband used to own a bar (which he managed and bartended at), and he swears that there were more stupid-drunk incidents on nights where there was a full moon! Interesting facts – thanks for sharing!
It’s funny, Jennette, I used tend bar and we would have some crazy nights. Back then I never thought to compare them to the moon cycles.
Hmm. I guess I’ve never really noticed a change in behavior…at least that wasn’t related to PMS. I’ll have to ask one of my cousins. She and her hubby used to own a trendy bar. I wonder if they noticed that, too. 🙂