Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On December 23, 1999, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that the brightest moon in 133 years on the night of December 22nd, which was also the day of the winter solstice, was a reason for Pagans to celebrate. Members of the Earth Spirit Pagans gathered at the West Center in Colorado Springs, CO for a full moon ritual. The full moon on December 22nd was 15 percent brighter than a normal full moon and 30 percent brighter than the faintest full moon because it fell on the winter solstice, which is when the Earth and moon are closest to the Sun. Rodney Valdez, founder and president of the Earth Spirit Pagans, stated: "The moon is significant for the Wiccan community...The moon is the aspect of the mother and a lot of nurturing rituals will be going on." Valdez also commented on the unique lunar events of the past year: "If you look at 1999, we started with a blue moon, two full moons back to back, a month without a moon and closing the year with a moon that is at its closest. There's a lot of beautiful magic that happened this year."