After weeks of anticipation, the biggest supermoon of 2019 will finally light up skies around the world tonight.
During the supermoon, which is often called the Snow Moon, our lunar satellite will make its closest approach to Earth, making it appear both bigger and brighter than usual.
Supermoons have been linked to many myths and legends throughout the years, including werewolves, fertility and even mania.
Here’s a round up of some of the wackiest myths and legends ahead of the supermoon tonight.
Lunacy
For hundreds of years, many people have believed that there is a connection between a full moon and mania.
In fact the word ‘lunacy’ comes from the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna, who was said to ride through the sky each night.
While there’s little to no scientific evidence that supermoons cause lunacy, studies have shown that on the night of a full moon there’s a rise in both suicides and epileptic seizures.
The reason for this remains unclear.
Effects on menstrual cycles
Several early civilisations believed that women’s menstrual cycles were controlled by the moon.
Ancient Assyrian texts even contained advice on when women were most fertile, according to the different phases of the moon.
Moon deities, including the Incan Quilla, were also thought to have an effect on women’s fertility and reproduction.
Supermoons affect surgery outcomes
In 2009, a study published in Anaesthesiology looked at whether the moon’s phase has any effect on surgery outcomes.
The researchers looked at the outcomes of 18,000 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries, and compared them to the phase the moon was in when they were performed.
Unsurprisingly, the results showed no link between the two.
Werewolves
They’ve been the subject of many of horror film, and some people believe that werewolves could come out during this supermoon.
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The legend can be traced back to Germanic paganism, in which the initiation of warriors was linked to the transformation of man into a wolf.
Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, was also said to keep the company of wolves, while the North American Seneca tribes believed that wolves sang the moon into existence.
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