The Full Moon in March, known as the Worm Moon, will occur on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 2:55 AM EST (7:55 AM UTC). It is the third full moon of the year.
The Worm Moon of 2025 marks the coming of spring and the departure of winter. It is the first full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Story Behind the name Worm Moon
When the ice thaws and the soil warms up during the end of winter, earthworm casts appear and mark the return of various birds like robins that feed on them. This is why the South Americans named March Full Moon 'Worm Moon'.
The North Americans do not call it the Worm Moon because earthworms were an extinct species in the region due to the Ice Age. By the time the Ice Age ended, all the earthworms in Northern America were destroyed. Today, earthworms exist in those regions because they have been brought back into the soil by colonists or transported plants that had earthworms in their roots.
Lenten Moon or Paschal Moon
The March Full Moon is also called the Lenten Moon if it occurs before the 21st of March (a fixed and rough approximation of Spring Equinox).
If it occurs on or after the 21st of March, it is called the Paschal Moon. The Paschal Moon is used to calculate the date of Easter (the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon). Therefore, the March Full Moon plays an essential role for Christians.
Other names for the March Full Worm Moon
- Sap or Sugar Moon (Ojibwe) – After the flow of sugar maple sap starts
- Sore Eye Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine) – Refers to the blinding sunlight reflecting off the melting snow during Spring
- Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo) - Highlighting the strong winds during this time of year
- Plough Moon (Celts) – Referring to the preparation of fields for the planting season
- Crow Moon (Shawnee) – When crows signal the end of winter with their caws
- Snow Crust Moon (Chippewa) – As the snow melts and freezes again to form a crust above the snow
- Chaste Moon (Old English) – Chaste means pure. It highlights the purity of the Spring season that comes after this full moon
Future Full Worm Moon Dates
| Year | Day of the week | Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Friday | 14 March at 2:55 EST or 7:55 UTC |
| 2026 | Tuesday | 3 March at 6:38 EST or 11:38 UTC |
| 2027 | Monday | 22 March at 6:44 EST or 11:44 UTC |
| 2028 | Sunday | 10 March at 20:06 EST or 11 March at 1:06 UTC |
The Worm Moon is followed by Pink Moon in April
You might also be interested to know about Snow Moon in February
You should also know about the names of the 12 full moons throughout the year
Here's another article you might like: Full Moon Dates
