September 20, 2021

The 2021 Full Moon Election

What the Moon looked like on every Canadian federal election since 2000

I've just returned from voting in today's Canadian federal election. When this election was first called in late August, I checked immediately to see if it would conflict with my Moonrise workshops, bringing people up Mont-Royal to see the Full Moon rise above downtown.

It did. This is a Full Moon Election.

NOTE: I'm teaching my Moonrise workshops Tue, Sep 21 and Wed, Sep 22. You should come.

At exactly 7:54 PM on September 20, the Moon is officially "full". And that's right around the time results should start coming in.

"Has this happened before?" I wondered. So I found what the Moon looked like on each Canadian federal election since 2000.

Let's enter the Lunar Time Machine...

November 27, 2000

Waxing Crescent: Liberals win a majority government

The Moon would have set early in the evening, just after sunset. Kinda like Stockwell Day's political career.

Moon, November 27, 2000

June 24, 2004

Waxing Crescent: Liberals win a minority government

You would have seen this Moon probably until around midnight on that evening before setting in the West. This was almost a First Quarter Moon.

Moon on June 24, 2004

January 23, 2006

Waning Crescent: Conservatives win a minority government

You would have seen this Moon during the day, but it would not have been visible during the nighttime as election results were coming in. Stephen Harper became Prime Minister.

Moon on January 23, 2006

October 14, 2008

Full Moon: Conservatives win a minority government

There it is! We have had a Full Moon Election in recent memory. In Montréal, the Moon would have risen in the East at 5:42 PM and been in the sky all night long.

Moon on October 14, 2008

May 2, 2011

Waxing Crescent: Conservatives win a majority government

This was a very thin Crescent Moon. Basically impossible to see, as the Moon was rising at the same time that the Sun was.

I was in Edmonton during the campaign and I still remember this guy gave me a fist-bump during a rally.

Moon on May 2, 2011

October 19, 2015

Waxing Crescent: Liberals win a majority government

You would have seen the Moon throughout much of the night as Trudeau was crowned new leader.

Moon on October 19, 2015

October 21, 2019

Waning Gibbous: Liberals win a minority government

On the morning of the election, you would have seen this Moon hanging in the sky. But around noon, it would have set in the West and not be visible as results poured in.

Moon on October 21, 2019

September 20, 2021

Full Moon: Yeah, we'll see...

The last time we had a Full Moon Election in 2008, Conservatives won a minority government. What about this one?

Moon on September 20, 2021