Lunar folklore: what old cultures observed

Agriculture

In nearly every pre-modern farming culture, there are rules about what to plant and harvest by the Moon. The most consistent ones:

• Plant on the waxing moon. Seeds that need fast germination and leafy growth.
• Harvest on the waning moon. The traditional argument is that sap circulation is lower, and the harvested product lasts longer.
• Prune on the waning moon. Same reason.
• No heavy work on the new moon. A conviction that physical output is below normal.

Modern science is skeptical. Controlled studies haven't confirmed significant lunar effects on agriculture. But many farmers still follow the lunar calendar, and some practical observations (like better preservation of wood cut on the waning moon) have plausible biophysical hypotheses.