In the Chinese lunar calendar, the sixteenth day of the eighth month, namely the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, is special. It is believed that this day presents the most perfectly circular moon of the whole year. 

But this beautiful scene presents a problem: will the wolves crazy when the moon is at its fullest? Folklore has it that some people would turn into blood-sucking beasts or werewolves during a full moon, like the unfortunate Professor Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series. So, with the moon at its brightest most round on the 15th or 16th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, is there a potential for danger during the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The simple answer is no. Although wolves may look up at the moon at night, the story of werewolves is only folklore. It has no real or scientific basis. 

Another myth is that wolves howl at the moon. In fact, they do not. When you see wolves with their heads pointing upward to the sky as if to howl at the faraway celestial body, they are merely talking with each other.

Wolves howl to communicate. According to National Geographic, howling is the most direct way of communicating across long distances and is especially important in areas where wolf have vast territories. A howl can communicate things like a wolf’s location, warnings about predators and the position of prey. The pack even has howling choruses to strengthen member bonds. The need for communication is always there; so wolves howl during the day or night, not just when there is a full moon.

For anyone who has not heard a wolf howl, check out the video below. You may have a sudden impulse to howl with them!

(Video clips and cover image via VCG)

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