Many people know the late September changing of the season as “the first day of fall.” Those who want to sound more intellectual will call it “the autumnal equinox.” But going back to the misty moors of Europe, this date has another name: Mabon.
Mabon is a pagan holiday, and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year. (FYI: Wicca is not “witchcraft.” Wiccans worship nature, often personified as Mother Earth and Father Sky. They can use many different titles for their deities.)
Mabon celebrates the shifting from summer to autumn. In the northern hemisphere, this Sept. 23 will mark the autumnal equinox. It also celebrates the mid-harvest festival (also known as the second harvest).
According to the Boston Public Library, many civilizations have celebrated a harvest festival around the equinox. In the 1700s, the Bavarians (part of present day Germany) began a festival that starts in the last week of September. They called this festival Oktoberfest. The festival had lots of feasting and celebrating. Oktoberfest is still celebrated in Bavaria today – and in many places across America.
Many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest, called Lammas) and the equinox as a time for giving thanks. This time of year is when farmers know how well their summer crops did, and how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you and your family would have enough food for winter. That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, and animals and food.
The original American Thanksgiving was celebrated on Oct. 3, which makes more sense with harvest times. By the end of November, there’s not that much left to harvest.
The name Mabon comes from the Welsh god who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess.
To celebrate this holiday, pagans – or maybe you and your family! – might pick apples. Apples are a common symbol of the second harvest. They may use the apples in an apple harvest ritual that thanks the gods for the bountiful harvest. Others might perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to their lives, as this holiday celebrates a day with equal light and day.
Another common ritual is to set up an altar with symbols of the season, such as apples, grapes and other seasonal harvests. And any sabbat would not be complete without a feast for family and friends.
As our days continue to grow shorter and harvests begin to wrap up, consider “celebrating” Mabon on Sept. 23.
