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English Edification Enrichment (12)


What is the meaning and origin of the expression "once in a blue moon"?

When something happens "once in a blue moon" it happens very rarely.
Here are a few examples,

* My brother George lives in Russia. I see him once in a blue moon.
* We have visitors once in a blue moon.
* How often does Tendulkar come to office? Once in a blue moon.

There are several explanations as to the origin of this expression. According to scientists, whenever a volcano erupts, the sulphur and dust particles that are thrown up into the atmosphere often cause the moon to appear blue for some time. When the volcano on Krakatoa (an island between Java and Sumatra) exploded in 1883, rocks were hurled thirty miles high into the air and dust from the volcano fell nearly three thousands miles away. After this eruption the moon looked blue for several days. Luckily for us, volcanoes don't erupt every day, so a blue moon continues to be a rare phenomenon.

Another explanation offered by scholars is the following. On very rare occasions we have two full moons within the same month. The editors of "Maine Farmers Almanac" used to indicate the first full moon of the month in red and the second, when it did occur, in blue!

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