What Am I? GUESS THE MYSTERY item Here are some clues: I have been around for a very long time. page 1 I have often been misunderstood. page 2 Many consider me superfluous. page 3 There is some disagreement about how I should be defined. page 4 Some say that my name means “never.” page 5 I am always brightly illuminated. page 6 Photographs often enhance my natural beauty. page 7 I have a special connection to butterflies. page 8 Volcanoes and forest fires tend to highlight my features. page 9 Experts concoct unusual names to classify my unique associations. page 10 People often sing my praises. page 11 I am especially rare. page 12 Some of my fans are beer drinkers. page 13 Elvis was one of my biggest fans. page 14 Thirteen is my lucky number. page 15 I have been the subject of both rewrites and reinterpretations. page 16 In January and March, make mine a double. page 17 Bruce Willis was on my payroll. page 18 There is some debate about whether I am the second or third. page 19 I was once recognized by the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. page 20 This month, I am expected to make an appearance. page 21 Astronomers know me best. page 22 You can hear all about me if you watch a werewolf movie set in London. page 23 Many people say I look best in blue. page 24 I am an extra full moon. page 25 Can you guess what I am? page 26 I am really quite rare. I am a blue moon. page 27 Introduction In astronomical terms, a blue moon can be defined in several ways: the second of two full moons in a calendar month, the third of four full moons in a single season, or a moon that is colored blue due to atmospheric conditions. The term has also been applied to something that rarely occurs or is unique. In popular culture, you can find songs, books, movies, and even craft beer named after the blue moon. page 28 Background A full moon occurs at the midpoint of the lunar phase, at which time the moon is completely illuminated by the sun. Since a complete lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, there are some years that see 13 full moons, which means one month will have an extra full moon. page 29 This phenomenon is known as a blue moon and occurs when the first full moon falls in the first days of the calendar month while the second appears in the final days. page 30 In 1946, this definition became widely accepted when amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett published it in Sky & Telescope magazine. It turned out that he inadvertently misinterpreted the traditional meaning of a blue moon: the third full moon in an astronomical season of four full moons. page 31 The notion of a seasonal blue moon can be linked to the Christian ecclesiastical calendar, which looked to the phases of the moon to determine the exact dates for Christian holidays like Lent and Easter. Some viewed this astronomical event as an opportunity for growth and deeper understanding. According to folklore, blue moons were shrouded in myths and superstitions, often tied to the number 13. page 32 As the 13th full moon in a calendar year, a blue moon was considered particularly unlucky when falling on Friday the 13th, as it did in September 2019. A February without a full moon, also known as a black moon, is thought to stir up feelings of anger, resentment, and frustration. Whether perceived or experienced, the effects of the blue moon have had wide-ranging impacts. page 33 Discussion Starters • What is your opinion of astronomy? What celestial events have you been able to witness? • Do you consider yourself a superstitious person? Why or why not? page 34 Idiomatic Expression The idiomatic expression once in a blue moon has been around for a long time and is used to express an occurrence that is quite rare. The first recorded use of the phrase dates to the 16th-century writings of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (pictured), advisor to King Henry VIII, who charged that his critics “would have you believe the moon is blue.” page 35 This adage, further explained by folklorist Philip Hiscock, was used to express an absurdity or something that has very little chance of occurring. Many have likened it to doing something specific when an impossibility becomes possible, such as “I’ll run for president when pigs fly.” In this vein, the term evolved over time into another way of saying “never.” page 36 In 1821, a book about working-class Londoners used the expression I haven’t seen you this blue moon to indicate that it had been a very long spell since one person had seen another. At the time, this phrase was reserved for the working class and not widely used among the educated aristocracy. page 37 As such, it did not appear in literature. Within a matter of decades, though, the expression once in a blue moon was so well known that books no longer required a footnote to explain its meaning. Today, the idiom is widely used and understood, even if the lunar implications behind the expression may be lost on some. page 38 Discussion Starters • What are some idiomatic expressions that include the word moon? • In your opinion, why are idiomatic expressions so hard to learn for non-native speakers of a given language? page 39 Song “Blue Moon” is a song that was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934 for an MGM movie called Hollywood Party. When the song was not included in the film, Hart rewrote the song with new lyrics for a new 1934 film called Manhattan Melodrama. That song, too, was cut from the final release and was instead rewritten with a new title and more romantic lyrics for commercial release. page 40 After being used as a theme song for the Hollywood Hotel radio program, “Blue Moon” was interpreted by a series of talented artists representing many different genres. In 1949, both swing singer Billy Eckstine and jazz singer Mel Tormé recorded their own versions of “Blue Moon,” taking it to the top of the Billboard charts in short order. page 41 Jazz singer Billie Holiday recorded the song in 1952, and two years later, country music star Elvis Presley gave the tune a rock-and-roll treatment when he recorded it. In 1961, “Blue Moon” became an international hit when the doo-wop group the Marcels put their own spin on the ballad with an upbeat tempo and unique introduction featuring the lyrics “bomp-baba-bomp” and “dip-da-dip-da-dip.” page 42 It went on to sell a million copies, earning a gold disc and the distinction of being among the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock ’n’ Roll. Since then, “Blue Moon” has been covered by artists ranging from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin (pictured), and the Platters to Sam Cooke, Cyndi Lauper, and the Cowboy Junkies. page 43 Discussion Starters • What styles of music do you most enjoy? Who are some of your favorite artists? • In your opinion, do certain songs have the unique ability to transport you back in time to a specific event or feeling? Share a personal story to support your point of view. page 44 A Bit of Trivia • A seasonal blue moon, also known as the sturgeon moon, will occur on August 22, 2021. • It is quite rare for both a monthly and a seasonal blue moon to occur within the same calendar year. The next opportunities to witness this phenomenon will be in 2048 and 2067. page 45 • The extremely rare triple blue moon occurs when one seasonal and two monthly blue moons appear in the same calendar year. The last triple blue moon was seen in 1961 and the next is expected in 2143. • Blue Moon craft beer was developed in Colorado in the Belgian brewing tradition. The company’s marketing pitch claims that “a beer this good only comes around once in a blue moon.” page 46 • The song “Blue Moon” was featured in at least seven MGM films, including the Marx Brothers’ At the Circus (1939) and Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas (1964). • The Blue Moon Butterfly, a species of dark butterflies found in various parts of the world, gets its name from the bright blue, moonlike patches on the male’s wings. page 47 • When the moon looks blue in photographs, it is most likely achieved by using a special camera filter or digitally editing the photo in post-production. • The popular 1980s television series Moonlighting, starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, was set at a detective agency named Blue Moon Investigations. page 48 Can You Guess? 1. When rare moon events coincide, like they did on January 31, 2018, the night sky becomes a focal point for the entire world. On that day, the blue moon glowed red and was at one of its closest positions to Earth. There was also a total lunar eclipse. Can you guess the name given to this one-of-a-kind moon? page 49 Answer: Super blue blood moon page 50 Can You Guess? 2. Seasonal blue moons take place slightly less frequently than monthly blue moons, but either type occurs about every two to three years. Over the 1,100 years between 1550 and 2650, about 456 monthly blue moons are expected. Can you guess how many seasonal blue moons are anticipated during the same time period? page 51 Answer: 408 seasonal blue moons page 52 Can You Guess? 3.