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Mabon

Autumn Equinox Holiday of Appreciation & Abundance

The Autumn Equinox has come!  The hours of day and night are equal, which marks the time as one of harmony and balance.  In 2022 and 2023, it falls on September 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere and March 20th in the Southern Hemisphere.  In 2024, it will fall on September 22nnd in the Northern Hemisphere and March 20th in the Southern Hemisphere.  There is a Pagan Holiday that celebrates this time of year called Mabon (pronounced MAY-bun), also known as Meán Fómhair or Alban Elfed.  Mabon celebrates the Autumn Equinox and the year’s second harvest (the first one being on Lughnasadh/Lammas).  Many Wiccans believe this is when the Goddess advances from being a Mother to a Crone.  In many ways, it can be considered like the Pagan Thanksgiving, for it is a time to give thanks as farmers gather foods such as pumpkins, apples, gourds, and grapes.  Mabon is a holiday celebrated by people of all spiritual backgrounds, not just Pagans, Wiccans, etc.  So let’s have some fun exploring this fun festival together!

Table of Contents

    What is Mabon?

    On Mabon, the Goddess is considered the Harvest Queen.  The festival of this second harvest of the year is when vegetables and fruits are harvested (as opposed to wheat, which is the primary focus on Lughnasadh/Lammas).  Also, the God finally passes away with the final cut of the last bundle of wheat and grain.  (Fun Fact: Some Scottish had a tradition of having the youngest woman/girl cut down the last bundle of harvest, called “The Maiden.”  It was during Mabon that these grains would be stored after being brought in from the fields.)  But he has left us a gift of pure love and shall return.  People celebrating this holiday might pick apples and/or use them in an apple harvesting ritual to show gratitude to the gods for their bountiful harvest.  Some may use apples, grapes, and other seasonal foods to decorate an Altar.  Of course, as with most Pagan holidays and festivals, nothing would be complete without a feast with friends and loved ones! 

    Mabon also marks the beginning of Autumn.  With the equinox comes an equal number of daylight and night hours.  However, when Ostara reflected the equality of these hours, it was to show the beginning of Spring and the balance between masculinity and femininity.  However, with Mabon, it is nearing the end of the Pagan Calendar Year.  The year is coming to its conclusion and the nights will begin to grow longer and the days shorter.  The world’s colors will change from Spring/Summer to Autumn.  It is a return to darkness, which is where the Pagan New Year takes place (Samhain on October 31st).  That being said, some people may conduct a ritual using apples a primary symbol of the second harvest in hopes to restore harmony and balance into their lives, in reflection of the equinox.  

    During Mabon, it is important to reflect and give thanks for all you received this year.  Mabon is a festival and holiday similar to Samhain (October 31st) in that it is less about being joyous and proud in our accomplishments but being more solemn in reflection.  As there are equal amounts of night hours to daylight hours, one should respect and acknowledge the darker parts that come with life.  Thus, now is the time of year to reflect on both good and bad life aspects equally.  We thank the Sun for its life-giving light that provided us with such an abundance of foods this year, as presented in this harvest.  Think back to any goals, objectives, or aspirations you made earlier this year, such as on Imbolc (early February) or Ostara (Spring Equinox).  Contemplate how you reaped during this year’s harvest on what you’ve sown back then.  How have they manifested or taken shape?  At the same time, Mabon is to be marked as a time of rest.  We’ve been working hard this year and the labor that comes with harvesting is no exception.  So wrap up any incomplete projects and/or let go on what you no longer need or want at this time.  The year is coming to an end.  After Autumn comes Winter, which gives us time to reflect, be at peace, and start mentally coming up with new ideas and goals that we may wish to pursue in the next year.  But for now, we need to make space for these new ideas, so it is time to clean up, finish up, and take a nice rest and celebrate this year’s accomplishments.  You deserve it!

    Origins & Continued Practice

    Did you know that there is little evidence to suggest that Mabon was celebrated in Celtic countries?  Did you know that the term Mabon may have been first used as recently as the 1970s?  Well, even if that is true, I think it is still worth learning about Mabon.  It does offer its benefits if you wish to celebrate it in any way you wish.  Even if you do not celebrate Mabon, I think it is still fun learning about different things involving Paganism and the magical world at large!  Mabon was named after the Welsh God, Mabon, the Child of Light and the son of Modron, the Earth Mother Goddess.  He is considered a Welsh God of Harvest and can be viewed as a masculine version of Persephone, the Ancient Greek Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Life, Grain, Destruction, and the Dead.

    At this time of year, farmers and families would learn if their hard work with the summer crops were successful to provide food for both them and their animals.  It also provides insight as to how much food one would have in the upcoming winter.  With so much at stake, it is a time to give thanks for the crops, the animals, and the resulting food.  As you can imagine, the Autumn harvesting season is celebrated around the world among a variety of cultures and people.  For example, one can see why this festival can be compared to Thanksgiving, where one shares a large meal with loved ones while giving thanks.  The first Thanksgiving in the United States was celebrated was actually celebrated in October 1621 (not in late November as it is done nowadays).  But that makes sense because that would align with the harvesting season as opposed to taking place in late November when there was hardly anything left to harvest for such a feast.  As another example, starting from way back in the 1700s, a festival called Oktoberfest would take place in Bavaria (which is now a part of Germany) where people would feast and celebrate.  Oktoberfest still takes place from late September to early October worldwide!  So go check it out if there is a festival near you!  Of course, these are just a couple examples.

    Symbolism

    The symbolism and imagery are as abundant as the Mabon Holiday itself!  For example, there is the image of the Cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, which expresses the harvest’s wealth and, in reflection of the Autumn Equinox, conveniently shows the balance of masculine (the phallic horn shape) and feminine (the horn being open, receptive, hollow) energies.  Apples are also a very strong symbol of Mabon.  It’s considered a sacred fruit in many sacred traditions.  It can be a symbol of wholeness, healing, regeneration, renewal, beauty, youth, life, and even immortality depending on the tale and its origin.  Below is the usual chart I’ve compiled that goes over what we’ve covered and further symbolism involving Mabon:

    How to Celebrate

    So let’s have fun and explore some of the ways we can celebrate Mabon.  See if any of these looks fun or interesting to you to try out!

    • Take some time in quiet reflection or meditation.  Remember to respect and embrace the darkness that took place in your life.  Find it within yourself and embrace it.  This is good to do after waking up in the morning, so your Mabon gets off to a great start.
    • Walk outside.  Observe the nature around you.  Take note of the colors, plants, overall atmosphere, etc.  Reflect on nature’s abundance and gifts.
    • Plant shrubs and tree seeds!  During Winter, these seeds will have time to germinate and begin to grow.  When you plant seeds, think about your hopes, goals, ideas that you would like to start accomplishing in Spring.  When Spring arrives, the plants will start to surface.  At the same time, when they emerge it will be a gentle, friendly reminder from nature about your dreams that you planted back in Mabon!
    • Pick, cut, and eat apples.  Go out apple picking!  Cut an apple to reveal an old Pagan secret!  If you cut it sideways (width-wise), the seeds lie within a Pentagram with each of the 5 points representing (a) the Elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and with Spirit at the top) and (b) the Directions (North, South, East, West and Within).  If you can see the circle around the Pentagram, it represents wholeness and the eternal circle of life.  So have fun cutting up the apple and eat it up.  Also enjoy making any apple-based pastries, desserts, etc.
    • Feast!  Have a Thanksgiving-like meal with family, friends, and/or loved ones that involve foods of the harvest, such as locally grown pumpkin, apples, corn, and root vegetables.  Also, beer, mead, and wine are commonly used.  While this Holiday is to acknowledge darkness, remember to balance it with the celebration of light that comes with the Equinox.  Converse with your guests and express what you are thankful and grateful for this year.  The general idea is to have a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
    • Have an outdoor picnic.  If having a large feast is not really your thing, you can have a simple picnic.  It can be a potluck with a small bonfire and a few of your closest loved ones.  It can be just you eating something small.  
    • Have some beer, mead, and wine.  If you started fermenting drinks for Lughnasadh/Lammas, now is the time to bring them out and enjoy!
    • Read or tell stories about death/endings and rebirth/renewal.  Some great examples for Mabon include the tales of Persephone, Jesus Christ, Odin, Mithras, Osiris, and, of course, Mabon, himself.
    • Donate to charity.  Is there an organization or a cause that is important to you or that you wish to support?  Make a monetary donation of any size.  If you can’t afford the money, you can donate your energy or time by sharing their cause to others or helping them directly.  Of course, one should give to charitable causes year-round.  So you can think of Mabon as the start of giving to a good cause at a more regular basis for the upcoming year.
    • Clean up and declutter!  You remember about spring cleaning back with on Ostara and the Spring Equinox?  Well, it’s the same idea for Mabon and the Autumn Equinox.  As Autumn and Winter are rearing its head, you’ll be spending more time at home anyway.  Might as well prepare and get your home all cleaned up and organized to get rid of any negative or stagnant energy.  You want your home to feel peaceful, relaxing, and welcoming, which will positively impact your mental and emotional health, too.
    • Finish up any incomplete projects.  It’s near the end of the Pagan Year and it’s time to wrap things up so you can start the Pagan New Year with a clean slate and a fresh mind.  If you’re not able to complete any unnecessary projects or tasks, just let them go.  It’s ok.  
    • Make a Mabon Altar!  Create a space that contains things that represent this time of year.  You can add some seasonal fruits, vegetables, and plants, such as pinecones, apples, leaves, corn, elderberries, squash, blackberries, pomegranates, etc.  Locally grown foods are greatly welcomed since it goes with the harvesting theme (and it helps your neighborhood small businesses, too!).  Good colors include red, gold, bronze, and orange.  Seasonal scents for candles can be those of cinnamon, apple, sage, and orange.  Crystals that emit brown or green colors are awesome things to add, too.  Some people make an Altar for both inside their home and one outside to give thanks to nature more directly, but it’s up to personal preference.
    • Create a protection amulet!  You can use an apple or apple-shaped amulet for protection.  Either wear it yourself or place it in your home’s doorways and windows to protect yourself and your home from evil. 
    • Write a journal of gratitude.  If you have a journal or notebook available, pull it out and start a journal entry or make a list.  Jot down what you are thankful for and what makes you happy.  It’s a nice reminder of your blessings and helps you mentally and emotionally knowing that you have these things supporting you through life’s journey. 
    • Light a candle and give thanks.  After lighting your candle of your preferred scent, close your eyes and take deep breaths for a few minutes.  Think of all of which you are thankful.  This is especially nice to do right before bed for it’ll help you be all relaxed and end Mabon on a good note.

    Yes, it does seem like every Pagan Holiday requires a moment of reflection and expressing gratitude to the Earth for its gifts.  And that is true.  But the Wheel of Pagan Holidays allows us to maintain insight, inner reflection, and express gratitude for both our personal and nature’s environmental gifts all year round.  So, please tell me… Do you do something special during this time of year?  If so, what do you do?  Do you celebrate Mabon?  If so, how?  What are your thoughts about Mabon in general?  Would you be interested in celebrating it?  Please share so we can learn from you, my friends!  As always, thank you for reading this post and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future! 

    “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” 

    – Warren Buffett

    • Image Captions (in order of appearance):
    • Symbols of the Celtic calendar, names in Celtic of the solstices. Image courtesy of Shutterstock user robin.ph; not for commercial use.  Signed property release on file with Shutterstock, Inc.
    • Woman with apples on field meadow. Image courtesy of Pexels user Елена Кузичкина; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • A Person Holding Maple Leaves. Image courtesy of Pexels user Akshay Nayak; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • Happy Woman Throwing Papers in the Air. Image courtesy of Pexels user Mikhail Nilov; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • Hands holding apples. Image courtesy of Unsplash user Julia Kocova; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.
    • Roasted Turkey on White Ceramic Plate. Image courtesy of Pexels user Karolina Grabowska; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • Multiethnic female homosexual couple having picnic in park. Image courtesy of Pexels user Tim Samuel; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Pexels GmbH.
    • Fall is upon us. Image courtesy of Unsplash user Andrea Roberts; not for commercial use. Signed property release on file with Unsplash Inc.

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