I was scrolling
through X (formerly Twitter) when I came across a tweet from user @nziokamul1
that read:
"During and after
the full moon, accidents tend to occur uncontrollably. Today is the Waning
Gibbous moon—expect more accidents for at least five days."
The confidence in the
tweet made me curious about the kind of content this user posted. As I scrolled
through their feed, I was amazed at the depth of their discussions on the
different types of full moons and their effects on humans. But what really caught
my attention was the suspicious connection between the moon and accidents.
I fell asleep shortly
after.
The next morning, as
soon as I woke up, I picked up my phone. The Twitter page I had been browsing
was still open. Out of habit, I refreshed it, and at the very top was a freshly
posted retweet about an accident that had happened earlier that morning.
That messed with my
mind.
How did the user know?
Was he a prophet? Could there actually be truth to what I always thought was
just a myth?
These questions pushed
me to dive deep into the mysteries of the full moon and its connection
to lunacy, madness, and accidents.
Lunacy and the Full Moon Effect
For centuries, people
have believed that the full moon influences human behavior, often bringing out
irrationality, aggression, and madness. In fact, the word lunatic comes
from Luna, the Latin word for the moon, because it was once believed
that mental instability, violent behavior, and erratic actions were triggered
by the moon’s cycles. Ancient civilizations connected the full moon to
supernatural forces, and even today, some police officers, emergency
responders, and hospital workers claim that full moons bring an increase in
accidents, injuries, violent crimes, mental health crises, and strange or
erratic behavior.
Some scientists argue
that these claims are nothing more than confirmation bias, where people
remember strange events during a full moon but ignore similar incidents on
other nights. However, even with this skepticism, the idea that the moon
affects human behavior persists across cultures and generations.
Do More Accidents Really Happen During a Full Moon?
The belief that full
moons increase accidents has been debated for years. Some theories suggest that
the extra brightness from the full moon encourages more nighttime activity,
increasing the likelihood of mishaps. Others argue that full moons disrupt sleep
cycles, leading to restlessness, irritability, and poor concentration, which
could contribute to accidents. There is also the psychological factor—if people
believe that the full moon brings chaos, they may subconsciously act more
recklessly, fulfilling the myth.
Despite the lack of
conclusive scientific evidence, reports of increased hospital visits, car
crashes, and violent incidents during full moons continue to surface. Whether
coincidence or something more, the connection between the full moon and human
behavior remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in folklore and science.
Types of Moons and Their Legends
The full moon is just
one phase of the lunar cycle, but different types of moons carry their own
myths and superstitions. The Wolf Moon, which appears in January, is
named after the howling of wolves in the dead of winter and is associated with
hunger, survival, and supernatural forces. The Blood Moon, a total lunar
eclipse where the moon turns red, has long been feared as a harbinger of dark
rituals and apocalyptic events. The Black Moon Night, a rare second new
moon in a month, is believed to bring powerful energy and unpredictable chaos.
Even the Waning Gibbous Moon, the phase right after the full moon, is
said to prolong the strange occurrences that began under its predecessor.
One of the most
striking lunar events is the Supermoon, when the moon appears larger and
closer than usual. Many believe this intensifies emotions, tension, and bizarre
happenings, making it a time when unexplainable events are more likely to
occur. Throughout history, different cultures have revered and feared these
celestial changes, believing that the moon holds a mysterious force capable of
shaping human fate.
Is There Truth to the Myths?
Growing up, I watched
werewolf shows where a full moon meant humans would transform into beasts. It
was just fiction—right? But now, after seeing all these stories, myths, and
eerie coincidences, I wonder: maybe the moon’s power isn’t just a myth. Maybe the
evils of the full moon aren’t just superstition.
Or maybe, just maybe,
some things in this world can’t be explained by logic alone.