Mabon: An Introduction

The Autumn Equinox, also referred to as The Witch’s Thanksgiving occurs between the 21st and 24th of September. It is a time to restore balance and harmony to our lives, as this holiday celebrates a day with equal light and dark. We celebrate the gifts of the earth and prepare for the dark months ahead. 

Brief History

Harvest festivals have always been celebrated in some form or another throughout history. The harvest was celebrated with great deals of feasting, drinking, and eating. Gathering as many remaining crops as possible during the September harvest moon was customary. How well the summer crops did and how well fed their animals were determines if there was enough food for the winter. Early agricultural societies also understood the importance of developing relationships with your neighbors because they might be the ones to help if a family ran out of food.

The Autumn Equinox is also referred to as Mabon, coming from the Welsh God, who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess. However, the name was adopted in the 1970s. There is debate over whether or not it is appropriate to refer to this holiday as Mabon; choose what feels suitable for you.

Correspondence:

Colors: brown, gold, yellow, orange, maroon

Plants: grain, aspen, cedar, hazel, maple, oak, blackberry, chrysanthemum, fern, grape, star anise, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, ivy, marigold, sage, apple, gourds, squashes

Gemstones & minerals: amethyst, yellow topaz

Magical creatures: gnomes

Goddesses: Epona, Inanna, Modron, The Morrigan, Persephone

Gods: Dionysus, The Green Man, Hermes, Mabon

Animals: goose, hawk, wolf, deer, squirrel

Symbols: pinecones, leaves, cornucopia, harvesting tools

Intentions: accomplishment, agriculture, balance, goals, gratitude, grounding