Sir Gawain and the Harvest Moon

Tonight's Harvest Moon, the first full moon after the autumnal equinox, is called the "Michaelmas Moon" in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. 

In the poem it is said to bring with it "wintry wise", a pledge of winter's arrival, and the prospect of accounts to be settled. In the Anglo-Saxon calendar it was the herald of winter, Bede suggests that the first full moon after the autumn equinox is the first full moon of winter.

After the season of summer with the soft winds,
when Zephyrus blows on seeds and herbs,
happy is the plant that waxes then,
when the dank dew drops from the leaves,
to await the blissful glance of the bright sun.
But then harvest hastens and hardens it soon:
warns it to wax full ripe against the winter.
He drives with drought the dust to rise,
— from the face of the earth to fly full high.
The wild wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun.
The leaves fall from the bough and light on the ground.
The grass becomes all gray that erst was green.
Then all ripes and rots that which formerly flourished;
and thus runs the year in yesterdays many;
and winter returns again without asking any man,
till the Michelmas moon has come in wintry wise.
Then thinks Gawain full soon
of his anxious voyage.

So, although it still feels warm and quite summery, I am reminded that the colder months are not far away. It must be time to stock up our wood for the woodburner!