Why Tonight's Blue Moon Could Cast A Love Spell On You
Learn why this rare, but regularly occurring, occasion is widely associated with love.
If you never click on the science section of your favorite news site, you may not know that there's gonna be a blue moon tonight. No, it's not just a song or an expression meaning "infrequently"; a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, and it only happens once every 2.7 years. So, if you miss it tonight, you'll have to wait awhile to catch the next one.
And, if you're so science-phobic that you never click on the science section of your favorite news site, you may also believe that the blue moon casts a lunar spell, causing unsuspecting singles to fall madly in love under its inescapable power. But while there's no scientific evidence to support this theory, pop culture has certainly embraced it.
From the classic tune written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1935, and made famous by The Marcels, to the Belgian-style wheat beer that bears its name, the blue moon is widely associated with romance. And, there are two noteworthy facts about this particular occurance of the blue moon that give us pause to wonder: Does the blue moon really have magical powers?
First, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to walk on the moon, passed away less than one week ago — coincidentally (?) in the same month as the blue moon. Second, this blue moon falls on the weekend widely considered to be the unofficial end of summer.
"What's so significant about that?" you may wonder. Well, as one YourTango staffer pointed out with regards to Neil Armstrong's passing, "it's like the moon is keeping an eye on him." And, since summer is often associated with fleeting flings, this weekend implicitly marks the transition from temporary trysts to prolonged passion.
So, sure, the blue moon may be as romantically (ir)relevant as any other astrological occurrence. And, if you're a science-minded skeptic, you may find it difficult to accept that this rare, but regularly occurring, occasion is anything to get sentimental about. Nonetheless, we think you should keep an open heart, especially if you're a jaded single who's been beaten down by the dating scene. After all, great love doesn't come along every day, but, if you pay close attention, it will cross your path once in a blue moon.