Mabon

Also known as Madron, and Autumn Equinox, September Equinox, Harvest Tide, Harvest Home, Feast of Avalon

Unlike many of our Sabbats, it does not appear that the Ancients marked Mabon or at least nothing in history suggests that it had a specific name nor any specific festivities although they still seemed to have celebrated harvest festivals at about this time. The traditional harvest festival, in early UK, seems to have been celebrated when the Full Moon fell closest to the Autumn Equinox. This is shown by Ancient Neolithic sites which aligned with the Sun on this day and thus was honoured and celebrated. It is believed that an American Senior Pagan in the early 1970’s suggested that it should be called Mabon.

The name Mabon comes from Welsh mythology and is connected to the Arthurian legends. Although not confirmed, Mabon is considered as being a deity. Deities from ancient Pagan mythology were the children of unions between deities and humans. Mabon is the son of the Goddess Modron, the primordial triple Goddess of the ancient Celts. It is believed he was taken from his mother when he was three years old and held until adulthood when he was rescued by King Arthur's men.

Mabon is the second of the three-harvest festivals in the Wheel of the Year. The peak of crop harvesting is done (even in today’s modern habit of all year plant production), and it is a time of enjoyment, enjoying the fruits of the labour and for giving thanks for the abundance.

By now the long summer nights have passed; the evenings and nights are colder, and for the second time in the year, the daytime and night-time hours are equal. The Sun crosses the celestial equator and looks as though it is heading South. From now and until Yule, the daylight hours become significantly less.

The leaves on the deciduous trees begin to change the colours to the reds, oranges and yellows with plant life generally dying back in the gardens, fields and woodlands.

It is time to stop and take stock of what we have and what we still need to do before we enter the dark half of the year. At the same time, we can pause and celebrate what has happened so far this year. We give thanks for what we have, rather than rue what we do not have; we thank all who have helped us, family, friends, spirit guides, ancient ancestors and the deities we have invoked. We must also recognise the importance of sharing our own good fortunes with others, hosting feasts and giving to those in need.

This is also a time to focus on balance. The Autumn Equinox coincides with the Sun entering Libra – the scales – balance – harmony and equality. We need to balance everything to give us peace and harmony and joining in with rituals and celebrations of this Sabbat will help to bring us to this.

This also will bring us to recognise the need for change in our lives. However painful it is, we need death as part of the life, death and rebirth cycle. We are reminded of this during the Wheel of the Year and the changing relationship between the Goddess and the God. At Mabon neither are young anymore, with the aging God getting weaker before fading completely at Samhain. The Goddess is in her Mother aspect as the Earth still bears fruit, she has the new baby God in her womb. At the same time the Mother is preparing to move towards her Crone aspect, when she will reign alone during the cold dark nights until Yule when the God is reborn again.

This is a bittersweet time for all, to enjoy the fruits of their labours with abundant food, beautiful colours all around, mixed with the knowledge that the long cold nights of winter are fast approaching. The is reminiscent of the Mother as she begins to mourn the passing of the God yet knowing he will return at Yule.

In some traditions, the Goddess’s sadness at the absence of the God is the cause of the falling leaves and the cold barren Earth; in others, it is believed that the Earth becomes cold and barren because the Goddess follows the God into the Underworld. Other traditions consider the time as simply a time to rest, for all as well as the Earth – the balance between this and the hectic energy of the Spring.

The main symbol of Mabon is the Cornucopia (aka The Horn of Plenty). This is a large hollowed out horn which was filled to overflowing with fruit and vegetables; it believed to have been the centre piece for all harvest festivals. The word “cornucopia” comes from the Latin words for “horn” and “plenty” but the symbol itself has been dated as coming from the ancient Greek mythology; it was believed that as a young boy, Zeus accidently broke one of the horns of the goat, Amalthea, who was looking after him at the time. It is said that the horn was then grounded up and the powder was used to provide infinite nourishment. Other Deities associated with the Cornucopia include Gaia (the Greek Goddess of Earth), Demeter (a grain Goddess), Abundantia (Roman Goddess of Abundance).

Celebrating Mabon

Make or buy a Cornucopia and fill it with fresh Autumnal produce, fruit, nuts, grains, vegetables etc and place it on the altar; it can be used in rituals to express gratitude for abundance in one’s life and used in spells for abundance and prosperity, after which it can be left outside for the birds, bees and other small animals to enjoy. By the end of the following day, whatever is left should be buried. A Cornucopia could be filled and gifted as a way of sharing your abundance with others.

Due to Mabon being celebrated at the height of the harvest season, the feasting tends to be a lavish affair with food being shared with those less fortunate.

Esoteric Correspondences

Element: Water

Gods/Goddesses: Modron (Welsh), Bona Dea, the Triple Goddess-Mother aspect, Persephone, Demeter/Ceres, Morgan (Welsh- Cornish), Snake Woman (Aboriginal), Epona (Celtic-Gaulish), Pomona (Roman), the Muses (Greek), Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), Sky Father, The Green Man, Wine Gods, Aging Gods, John Barley Corn , the Wicker-Man, the Corn Man, Thoth (Egyptian), Hermes, Hotei (Japanese), Thor, Dionysus (Roman), Bacchus (Greek).

Herbs/Plants/Trees: Acorn, aster, benzoin, cedar, chamomile, chrysanthemum, ferns, grains, hazel, honeysuckle, hops, ivy, mace, marigold, milkweed, mums, myrrh, oak leaf, passionflower, pine, rose, rue, saffron, sage, Solomon’s seal, sunflower, tobacco, thistle, yarrow, and vegetables.

Incense & Oils: Pine, sweetgrass, apple blossom, benzoin, myrrh, cedar, frankincense, jasmine, sage wood aloes, black pepper, patchouli, cinnamon, clove, oak moss, sandalwood, & sage.

Colours: Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, gold, deep gold, green, orange, scarlet, yellow, purple, blue, violet, & indigo.

Crystals/Gemstones: Amber, Citrine, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Agate, Carnelian, Yellow Topaz, Tiger Eye & amethyst.

Symbols: wine, gourds, pinecones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, Cornucopia (horn of plenty), Indian corn, red fruits, autumn flowers, red poppies, hazelnuts, garlands, especially wheat stalks, and colourful, fallen leaves, acorns, pine & cypress cones, oak sprigs, pomegranate, statue/or figure to represent the Mother Goddess, Mabon wreath, vine, grapes, gourd, cornucopia/horns of plenty, burial cairns, apples, marigolds, harvested crops, burial cairns, rattles, the Mysteries, sun wheel, all harvest symbols.

Animals: Dogs, wolves, stag, salmon & goat

Birds: blackbird, owl, eagle, birds of prey

Spirits: Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaur, Cyclops, Andamans and Gulon.

Themes: abundance, balance, gratitude, harvest, preparation, welcoming the dark

Celtic Tree Calendar: Bramble, Apple, White Poplar