If you’re someone who follows pagan traditions, then the turning of one season to the next is usually a cause for celebration. With the summer coming to a close, soon the wind will carry a bit of chill and the splendor of autumn will reveal itself. Among pagan circles in the Northern Hemisphere, the official start of fall happens around the 21st of September. This is marked by the autumn equinox, known to pagans as Mabon. Learn more about the history and traditions of Mabon to best celebrate the seasonal shift.
What Is Mabon?
The term “Mabon” is not one steeped in any ancient waters, though the rituals and practices involved are much older. First given an official name by neo-pagan circles in the 1970s, Mabon is a modern mid-harvest celebration. Throughout early history, such festivals were used as a way of partaking in the abundance of summer. By eating and drinking the spoils of the land, the people honored the spirits of nature and ensured they would stay protected as the unforgiving winter months approached. Many modern pagans also use Mabon as a time to give thanks for their blessings.
The Altar
As with all modern pagan rituals, the altar is the centerpiece of individual worship. Since paganism involves whatever rites and rituals the practitioner feels connected to, the altar can feature anything. However, many pagans tend to follow the theme of the season when laying out their altars. If you think this would be a useful way to welcome autumn into your home and heart, try and include items that you feel are symbolic of fall.
Since this is a celebration of the bounty of the land, food is an easy and obvious inclusion. From a chaff of wheat to some dried berries, there are many ways to make the harvest the center of attention on your altar.
The Home
These days, the shift from one season to the next happens at a much more erratic pace than it did for previous generations. Though September 21st should mean cooler days, there is a strong possibility that the heat will linger well into November. For many pagans, the celebration of Mabon extends far into the fall, meaning you don’t need to conduct all of your activities at once or by a certain date. Preparing your home for autumn, for example, is a task that you can spread out over several weeks.
Easy actions to consider when aligning your home with the spirit of Mabon include swapping out your summer clothing for warmer attire, putting out decorations that capture the colors of the season, and making meals that use ingredients that are bountiful at the present moment.
The Festivities of Mabon
Gathering friends and family together can also be a lovely way to celebrate Mabon. Keep the activities simple and centered around the harvest. Bobbing for apples is a great game for people of all ages, especially on a warmer day where the prospect of dunking your head in a bucket of water seems inviting. For refreshments, go all-out with your presentation. This is a holiday built around feasting, so the spread you provide should be bursting with options. If you’re on a budget, a potluck event is a great way to guarantee a plethora of dishes.
The change of one season to the next is often a gradual process. Summer’s heat is slowly replaced with the chill of the winter. It can happen so subtly that you barely even notice it has occurred. By celebrating the autumn equinox, you give yourself the chance to connect to the passage of time in a physical and meaningful manner.