Olivia Bettorf
ombettorf@lc.edu

 

THERE IS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

I say this due to the fact that there is going to be a full moon on Friday the 13th in December, and much like any horror movie, this is something that is somehow nightmarish on Friday the 13th. I also would like to point out in the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton, there was a full moon when the main character Jack Skellginton took over Christmas Eve, giving his scary toys to the girls and boys around the world.

But it should be noted that there might be some other facts about this hellish full moon in December that might affect some human or animal behavior. Believe it or not, moon cycles mess with many creatures’ behaviors.

For human behavior, the full moon has been associated with strange or insane behavior, including suicide, sleepwalking and violence. A theory known as the lunar theory, or the lunar effect, is the idea that there’s some correlation between moon cycles and human behavior. Much like, say, dogs, like their ancestors the wolves, are known to howl at the moon when it’s full. Cats tend to hide, and birds become agitated and sometimes even disoriented. Most people dismiss the myths concerning the influence of the moon, but real effects are being found through science studies. 

Some examples of theses studies are a publication on the National Criminal Justice Reference Service titled as: lunar effect- biological tides and human emotions. The study shows analyses of data on human behavior. The lunar astronomy correctly indicated that the repression of the moon’s gravitational influence brings about social tension, disharmony and bizarre results. Another study that looked at data over a 5-year period from police records in Florida showed an increase in cases of homicide and aggravated assault around full moons. 

Coincidence? 

I think not!

The moon has affected people and animals more so than modern lighting. The light of a full moon kept people up at night which lead to sleep deprivation that could have caused other issues, according to one hypothesis. Regardless, the moon does have an effect, but how big of an effect is still a case that is unsolved.