The lunar effect is the supposed influence of the moon, and its various phases, on human behaviour.

The origins of this belief are probably prehistoric and one reason for the global ubiquity of moon worship. Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and ιστορία = history) is the period of human history prior to the advent of writing (which marks the beginning of recorded history). ...

One theory is that the moon has a perceived relationship to fertility due to its 28 day month corresponding to the human menstrual cycle. The phrase menstrual cycle ( or period) refers to the recurring physiological changes in a females body that are under the control of the reproductive hormone system and necessary for reproduction. ...

This is certainly reflected in such phenomena as the harvest moon, and the known lunar-determined mating cycles of some animals. (This article is about the seasonal event, for the farm simulation video game, see Harvest Moon (game)) The Harvest Moon is the full moon that appears nearest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs on or about 23rd September. ...

The 'lunar effect' in religion, folklore, and superstition

Human sanity is popularly supposed to be affected by the phases of the moon, which is the origin of the word lunatic. A lunatic (colloquially: loony) is commonly used term for a person who is mentally ill, dangerous, foolish or unpredictable, a condition once called lunacy. ...

Werewolves are supposed to be transformed by the full moon. A werewolf in folklore and mythology is a person who changes into a wolf, either by purposefully using magic in some manner or by being placed under a curse. ...

Upon seeing the new moon some say you should turn over whatever silver you have in your pockets or handbag, which supposedly ensures prosperity for the following month. Traditionally, the lunar phase new moon begins with the first visible crescent of the Moon, after conjunction with the Sun. ...

Buddhism forbids sports from being played under the light of the full moon [1]. A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia...

The 'lunar effect' in the news

It has been alleged that the full moon may have influenced voter behaviour in the US 2000 presidential election [2].

Police in Toledo record that crime rises by five per cent during nights with a full moon [3]. The façade of Toledo cathedral Toledo is a city located in central Spain, the capital of the province of Toledo and of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. ...

Police in Kentucky have also blamed temporary rises in crime on the full moon [4].

A survey in the UK finds that car accidents rise by up to 50 per cent during full moons [5].

External links

• The moon in superstition [6]
• Skeptics and the lunar effect [7]