The Metro Vancouver weather forecast is the only thing standing in the way of seeing this behemoth put on its celestial show this December.
While it is a monthly -- and sometimes even bi-monthly -- occurrence, the full moon never fails to capture the attention of people from around the world.
As the final lunar display of the year, the December full moon will reach peak illumination in Metro Vancouver on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, at 4:33 p.m., according to timeandate.com.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, some Native American groups call it the "long night's moon," because it occurs near the winter solstice—the day with the least amount of daylight.
The name "cold moon" became associated with the December full moon due to the month's frosty winter weather.
The moon will appear nearly full leading up to the big event, meaning that you can enjoy some brisk nights under the moonlight over the holidays, including Christmas Day.
In North America, the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, takes place on Thursday, Dec. 21. To celebrate the holiday, the 30th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival invites people in Vancouver to walk through an illuminated wonderland in a 500-candle Labyrinth of Light.
Before the solstice, the Geminid meteor shower will rain shooting stars across the region over several weeks, culminating in an awe-inspiring peak that may see 50 meteors per hour.
