Celebrating the summer moon

WINSTED — When the full moon appeared over the waters of Highland Lake recently, several area women were there to welcome the celestial body’s August appearance.

For the fifth year in a row, Jean Hinman held her annual Full Moon White Goddess Party at her East Wakefield home.

The party — open to women and girls only, no men allowed — took place the evening of Aug. 5, the first day of this month’s full moon.

Those who attend the celebration are asked to wear a white dress or all-white outfit — many women also wear costume tiaras and other fanciful accessories — and bring food or drink to share with others.

In addition, for the first time, this year’s guests were also asked to make a donation to the Winsted-based Foothills Visiting Nurse Service & Home Care.

“I decided that now there has to be a cause,� Hinman said.

But the event is more than a fundraiser.

The party not only celebrates the beauty and wonder of the evening sky above, Hinman said, but also provides an opportunity for women to celebrate themselves and connect with one another in a relaxed, social environment.

“You meet tons of new people,� Lori Claffey, who was attending the party for the fourth year in a row, said.“They are from all walks of life... and when the moon is just coming up, it’s beautiful.�

Lynne Dray, who was attending the fundraiser for the second time, said her favorite part of the evening was nightfall, when the women boarded Hinman’s boat to travel around the lake, singing songs as they sailed.

 â€œWhen it gets dark we go out on the boat and sing ‘Blue Moon’ and other moon songs,â€� Dray said. “We go all the way around the lake. It’s just so much fun.â€�

Hinman said event attendance has grown considerably over five years. The first time she held the event about 10 people took part.

Over the next few years the event grew to about 25 people. And last year, more than 30 women attended the celebration.

“And I don’t send out invitations, and I don’t require RSVPs,� Hinman said. “So, I’ve no idea how many people are coming.�

Hinman said she was first exposed to the idea of a Full Moon White Goddess Party while visiting with her next-door neighbor’s daughter, Debbe Paroso.

Paroso, the daughter of Jack and Marlene Rouleau, was visiting from Idaho that year, Hinman said. During a discussion, Paroso told her about some residents of Idaho who hold annual full moon goddess parties.

In ancient European mythology, the White Goddess is associated with the moon. And in Thailand, each month all-night parties are held on the beaches to celebrate the full moon.

 â€œDebbie said to me, ‘Oh, when the moon is full in August, we have a full moon party,’â€� Hinman said. “And we just had this fun idea to have a party here.â€�

After that first event, Hinman said, Paroso decided to leave behind the items she had gathered for the full moon celebration.

“She said, ‘Now you have to carry on the tradition,’� she said.

Hinman added that she intends to continue to hold the party as an annual fundraiser and hopes the celebration will continue to grow.

“I would love this to start a big thing nationally,� she said.