Mabon- The Autumn Equinox
Mabon is traditionally celebrated between the 21st-25th September in the Northern Hemisphere, although it is typically celebrated on the 23rd. In the Southern Hemisphere, some witches will also celebrate Mabon to align with the calendar, and other witches celebrate Ostara, to align with the seasons. Those witches would celebrate Mabon from the 21st-25th March. This post focuses on the celebration of Mabon.
Mabon celebrates a time of balance, where the days and nights are of equal length. Darker days are ahead, so we give thanks to the warmer days that have passed. In Wicca, this is when the Goddess begins her transformation from mother to crone, and the God prepares for death and rebirth. This is the second of the three harvest holidays (lammas, mabon and samhain), which celebrate the abundance of nature and the result of a fortunate harvest.
It is also a time to finish old business in order to stop and relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labour. It's a good time to finish projects and take a break from working hard all the time, whether that be at school, at work, or at home.
Also known as the second harvest, the feast of Avalon, or cornucopia, the name Mabon is shared by a Welsh god, meaning "divine son", however, this name was only coined in 1970 by Aidan Kelly as a reference to the god Mabon, and it was probably not originally a celtic celebration.
In the 1700s, the Bavarians (in what is now modern day germany) began the tradition of a week-long festival called Oktoberfest, which is still celebrated today. It shares some traditions with Mabon, centering around themes of the harvest and giving thanks.
Mabon is a time to cast spells about balance and resolving issues from the past few months, and protection and security for the coming months. It is a good idea to cut ties with any energies that surround you but no longer serve you, and accepting the events of summer and moving on.
Colours: earthy colours like brown, red, orange, yellow, green and gold.
Symbols: wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty (cornucopia).
Crystals: yellow agate, sapphire, quartz (particularly yellow and brown variations), amber, citrine, tiger's eye, aventurine, ruby, tourmaline.
Herbs: rue, yarrow, sage, chamomile, rosemary, hyssop, ivy, thistle.
Flowers: marigold, sunflowers, carnations, chrysanthemums.
Animals: blackbirds, butterfly, salmon, hawk, squirrel, horse, owl, stag, wolf, eagle.
Foods: apple, cinnamon, pears, berries, homegrown foods, bread, potatoes, carrots, courgettes, squash, onions, nuts, cakes, fruit juice, apple cider, homemade wine.
Gods and goddesses: Skadi, Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses, Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, the Green Man.
Altar decoration is probably the most obvious. You could decorate your altar with homegrown fruits and vegetables, or perhaps homemade bread. It is also a good time to remake or maintain your broom, as there are plenty of dry twigs to make brooms out of. The broom could also be decorated with corresponding items such as acorns, conkers, and coloured ribbons.
In terms of crafts, you could make a wreath out of seasonal decorations, leaves, twigs and ribbons, or enchant acorns and give them as gifts or keep them for spell work.
Go outside if you can! Take walks (maybe with a pet) in the woods or somewhere with trees, and observe nature in the middle of autumn. You could plant bulbs for the springtime or maintain your garden, if you have one.
