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Maple Sugaring Season
"May your sap run strong and sweet."
~ Traditional
The March Full Moon, often called the Sugar Moon, signals the start of maple sugaring season across the northeastern woodlands of North America. This ancient tradition has its roots in the lands where Sugar Maples, Black Maples, and Red Maples thrive—particularly in present-day Canada and the northeastern United States. Of the 13 maple species native to Canada, only these three are tapped for their sweet sap.
Long before European settlers arrived, Indigenous peoples of the region were the first to harvest and refine maple sap into syrup and sugar. In the Algonquin language, maple sugar is known as Sinsibuckwud, meaning “drawn from the wood.” One legend tells of a chief who struck a maple tree with his axe; his wife noticed the sap flowing and, intrigued, collected it to cook meat. The resulting flavor so delighted the chief that the practice of sugaring was born.
Maple sugaring became more than sustenance—it was a sacred ritual. Many Indigenous communities marked this season with ceremonies and dances, including the joyful celebration of the Sugar Moon with a traditional Maple Dance. ❤️ 💛 💙 💚 💜 🍁 🍁 🍁 🥞
The sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) is a much loved tree not only for its delicious syrup and value as lumber, but for its amazing fall color. As the seasons change, the leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, burnt orange and red.
This tartan, designed by Carol A.L. Martin, echoes all the colors of a the changing foliage of a maple tree throughout the year.
Maple trees can live to 200 years and beyond, and some have been tapped for 150 years or more.
Maple syrup, derived from the sap of the sugar maple sap is a very complex combination of water, sugar, minerals, anti-oxidants, and vitamins. “May your sap run strong and sweet” is a common “good luck” saying between sugar makers. First Nations people would leave their year-round settlements and travel to the “sugar bushes” to set up their “sugar camps” for the period of the Maple Moon.
For a delicious treat of Maple Pecan Sticky Buns, click the painting of maple sugaring for recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction.
May your sap run strong and sweet this season.