"Once in a Blue Moon" - what does it mean?
By Marja
@buenavida (9984)
Sweden
August 28, 2012 7:08pm CST
I have read that expression many times but not understood what it really means. I read a message from One-Minute Astronomer and got THREE explanations.
The moon can appear blue when there is high concentration in the atmosphere when there is a volcanic eruption, but the most common explanations have nothing to do with the color, but the calender.
One is when there are four full moons during a single three month season. The fourth is called a Blue Moon
Another is the second full moon in a calender month.
Both occur in about every 2,7 years.
We will actually have a Blue Moon in August 31 this year!! Next time will be in July 2015.
http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/6601/blue-moon/
I wonder how many knew about these explanations..?? 
The universe is amazing, as we can count a long, long time in advance what will happen there. Don't you think there is a great mathematician who planned it all??
The universe is amazing, as we can count a long, long time in advance what will happen there. Don't you think there is a great mathematician who planned it all??1 person likes this
13 responses
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
I did not know how literally "once in a blue moon" could happen. But, then, as a figure of speech, it is used to denote a rarity of happening, almost never. And it is aptly so, because as you describe, it is not a common occurence. The universe is, indeed, amazing. And, if we take time to notice these things, the universe gives such wonderful shows!
2 people like this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 Aug 12
I love to read this kind of books.. They really make me laugh! Sometimes translating directly from another language can be very fun..
As laughing is a good medicine, we should have a dose three times a day..
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Yes, our Creator has given us so many things that give us proof of His power and just giving us the ability to enjoy beauty is a great gift..
I only knew about the symbolic expression, but it seems there are literal explanations too..
I only knew about the symbolic expression, but it seems there are literal explanations too..@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
30 Aug 12
Yes, symbolic expressions usually get their literal explanations from some totally unrelated facts. And that is what makes language interesting because if all things are taken literally, it would be funny. I used to have a book where literal visuals of idiomatic expressions were drawn and it's funny. Just imagine "running nose", "raining cats and dogs" and "when pigs fly" look like!
And that is what makes language interesting because if all things are taken literally, it would be funny. I used to have a book where literal visuals of idiomatic expressions were drawn and it's funny. Just imagine "running nose", "raining cats and dogs" and "when pigs fly" look like! 1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Aug 12
I didn't realize there was a blue moon, but I should I guess because there is a song about it. And we know the expression means something that doesn't happen very often.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
The literal Blue Moon happens very rarely, so that may be the explanation for the meaning. I wonder if the song can be found online somewhere..??
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 Aug 12
Thanks for the link, just listened to Nat King Cole - what a great voice!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Aug 12
that is the meaning for the expression once in a blue moon.
there are many versions of the song
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=blue+moon&oq=blue+moon&gs_l=youtube.3..0l10.7903.10004.0.24630.9.8.0.1.1.0.64.450.8.8.0...0.0...1ac.X71PoBRVHGc
The two I remember most are by Nat King Cole and The Marcels, you have to listen to at least these two versions.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Then you knew more than me.. 
I have known about this only since just before I posted this discussion.. One never gets too old to learn..
I have known about this only since just before I posted this discussion.. One never gets too old to learn..1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Yup, fiction can sometimes be fun, but the science is a lot more exciting..
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
1 Sep 12
We had two full moons in August. It was cloudy here, but we might see an almost full moon this night or next.
The next time will be in July 2015. It has become an illustration of things that happen very rarely. 
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
About this blue moon idea, I just know it now from you. About the expression, well, we use it to an incident that happens only once in a very long time or next to impossible. For example, a relative who is living away from our hometown. He or she will be described to be visiting only our place once in a blue moon.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 Aug 12
I think most of us are familiar with the expression and use it the way you are doing.
I'm happy that I could add a bit to knowledge about the other ways one can use it.
It is interesting to do a little research and learn what is behind the expression.
@xmichelletarax (370)
• United States
29 Aug 12
the only one of those that i have heard is the second full moon in a month, and it happens in 2 days :) cant wait
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
30 Aug 12
Yeah, I think the moon will look like it usually does though.
But it is interesting to know a little facts behind this expression.
But it is interesting to know a little facts behind this expression. 
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
29 Aug 12
I personally have never seen a blue moon but I'll keep watching, as I do enjoy looking at a huge moon or a lazy moon or a harvest moon. I like the soft light it gives to brighten the night.
I think that if I ever saw a blue moon I might find it rather frightening. But I don't know since, so far, I've never seen one.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
I also love to see when the moon looks huge, but I think further in the South it is much bigger than up here..
Yeah, the moon is a wonderful night lamp..
If we really see a moon that appears blue and it is due to a volcanic eruption that is near us, then I guess it would be really frightening!
In 1883 the moon was blue for nearly two years after an enormous eruption. I hope we will not see that kind of blue moons ever..
Yeah, the moon is a wonderful night lamp..
If we really see a moon that appears blue and it is due to a volcanic eruption that is near us, then I guess it would be really frightening!
In 1883 the moon was blue for nearly two years after an enormous eruption. I hope we will not see that kind of blue moons ever..
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
I knew about it, too. It is truly amazing to be experiencing these kinds of phenomenon.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Yeah!! Really amazing. I'm happy that I got the information mail now and could share it with myLot friends!!
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
I have already read that there will be a blue moon on the 31st. Thanks for sharing that info.
My understanding with the phrase 'once in a blue moon' is that it rarely happens. Like it happens once in decade or once in a century.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Just like you say, it is an expression that talks about things that happen very rarely. Now we know the exact date for the Blue Moon..
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
29 Aug 12
Well as far as my knowledge goes this phrase means something happening in a rarest of the rare case. I also use this phrase very often while interacting with the people. What say?
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Yes, I have read that expression many times, but now I know where it comes from. It was interesting to learn that it has to do with the calender..
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
29 Aug 12
I knew some of this but not about how it occurs.
The saying when you realize all of this is kind of obvious though. Its basically another way of saying "once in a long while".
So that is quite a long time from 2 to 7 years... It is crazy that we're able to calculate when the next one will be.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
Yup, the moon and the rest of the universe follow its own timetable so exactly that we can calculate where the planets and suns and moons will be in the future.
A lot more exact than any man made clock!!
A lot more exact than any man made clock!!
@uolyram (266)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
Once in a blue moon happened when two full moon appears in a month such as this month of August 2012, full moon appears last august 2 and the second this coming august 31. This is so amazing since full moon has its counting days as to when it appears in a month as in every 30th day. Since our number of days differ in every month, there is 30 days and 31 days for each month and a leap year additional day of february so it can be counted as to when the next blue moon appears.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
I wonder which was first, the symbolic expression or the one that has to do with the calender months..??
I guess we could calculate the coming Blue Moons just by looking at calenders for coming years. But I will leave that to the astronomers..
I guess we could calculate the coming Blue Moons just by looking at calenders for coming years. But I will leave that to the astronomers..
@Shavkat (140024)
• Philippines
29 Aug 12
It is basically a research for foretelling the facts. The phrasal statement was explained through scientific evidence. If it is expressed in idiomatic expression, meaning it happens once in a certain period.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
29 Aug 12
It sure is an idiomatic expression. I wonder if it is used in other languages??
Can't remember hearing it in the two I am familiar with, Finnish or Swedish.
Perhaps it is a typical English phrase..??
