Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

New Moon Strathspey

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

New Moon Strathspey S3x32 3 couples Fiona MacDonald Dedicated Dancing II

1- 8 1s Cross Right hand and cast to 2nd place (2s step up on 3 and 4) 1s Petronella and Set (into centre of set M bet 2s, L bet 3s)
9 - 10 1s Turn Right (up and down)
11 - 16 Reels of 3 on sides (M1 Rsh to L2) (L1 Rsh to M3) curve in and face 1st corners
17 - 24 Set to 1st corners, pull Right shoulder back dance round each other clockwise in a big sweep (4 bars) (like the crescent moon!) to Set to 2nd corners
25 - 28 1s pulling Right shoulder back, pass Right shoulder to dance out through 2nd place (own side) and cast down to 3rd place
29 - 32 All Turn with 2 hands, Set. 231

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Fiona MacDonald)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Information

A new moon is a phase in the lunar cycle marked by several key characteristics and facts:

Definition:
A new moon occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. During this alignment, the side of the Moon that faces the Earth is not illuminated by sunlight, making it invisible to the naked eye from Earth.

Visibility:
Because the sunlight is shining on the far side of the Moon, away from the Earth, the new moon is essentially invisible in the night sky.

Frequency:
A new moon happens approximately once every 29.5 days, which is the length of one lunar cycle (also known as a lunation).

Impact on Tides:
The new moon, together with the full moon, contributes to spring tides, which are higher than average tides. This happens because the Sun and the Moon are aligned with the Earth, thus their gravitational forces combine to pull the ocean's water in the same direction.

Astronomical Position:
During the new moon, the Moon is at the closest point in its orbit to the Sun as viewed from the Earth.

Solar Eclipses:
A solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon. This happens when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun and can fully or partially block the Sun's light in a total or partial eclipse, respectively.

Cultural Significance:
Many cultures and religions mark the new moon with specific rituals, celebrations, or activities, as it signifies rebirth, new beginnings, and reflection.

Astronomical Use:
Astronomers and sky watchers value the period of the new moon due to the absence of moonlight, which provides optimal conditions for observing other celestial bodies and phenomena in the night sky.

New Moon
The Old Moon In The New Moon's Arms Above Rattray
One Of The Slimmest Crescent Moon's It Is Possible To See


This page contains both original content, which is copyrighted, and excerpts from Wikipedia and other sources using the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Text from this original New Moon article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Mike Pennington under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
Additional search terms: Thirteen Fourteen.

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