Super Blue Blood Moon: Myths and Beliefs

The Super Blue Blood moon on January 31, which has not been seen for 150 years, is the third of a recent super moon trilogy.


A super moon is when a full moon appears between 4% and 30% brighter than a normal full moon because its orbit is closest to earth. And when the moon is closest to Earth, this is when its gravitational pull is at its peak.

A blue moon is the second full moon in a month, while a blood moon is seen when a full moon temporarily turns red during a total lunar eclipse due to the "refraction of sunlight."

Conspiracy theorists end worried people on social media think this lunar spectacular could cause further dangerous eruptions for Mount Mayon.

However, not only Filipinos has its own beliefs about this phenomenon.

Tibetan Buddhists believed that any good acts you commit under the lunar eclipse are multiplied. The farmer's almanac is quick to also include that this karmic superstition goes the same way for anything negative you commit under the eclipse. Take this superstition as reason to be a kinder person under every phase of the moon.

National Geographic reports that the Batammaliba people in Togo and Benin have a myth revolving around the lunar eclipse. The myth goes, "the sun and the moon are fighting during an eclipse, and the people encourage them to stop." To this day, the lunar eclipse is the perfect time to come together and resolve old feuds.

In India, some people avoid eating and drinking during solar and lunar eclipses to avoid indigestion.

Every people has its own beliefs about the Super Blue Blood Moon, but what really does matter is the beauty of the moon during this phenomenon.

According to PAGASA, the last time this was observed in the Philippines was in December 30, 1982. And the last time this was seen in the US was in 1866.