Mabon - Autumn Equinox

Mabon is the name of the Autumn Equinox celebration in various Neopagan and Wiccan traditions. The Autumn Equinox, also known as the September Equinox, is the time of year when the sun is directly over the equator, causing the days and nights to be of roughly equal length. It typically occurs around September 22 or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and March 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

In ancient cultures, the Autumn Equinox was often celebrated as a time of thanksgiving and the end of the harvest season. In Neopagan and Wiccan traditions, Mabon is celebrated as a time of balance and harmony, a time to give thanks for the bounties of the harvest and to honor the God of the Sun, It is often marked with rituals, feasts, and other practices.

Mabon celebrations may include rituals such as giving thanks, balance and harmony rituals, rituals to celebrate and to honor the god of the sun, rituals to remember and honor the ancestors, and rituals that reflect on the meaning of the changing seasons. Many Pagans and Wiccans will also take the time to prepare for the coming winter and to focus on gratitude and balance in their lives. They may decorate their homes and altars with autumnal decorations such as corn, gourds, and leaves, and may make and share food from the harvest.

As with other pagan celebrations, the exact practices and rituals can vary depending on the individual or group and the tradition they follow.

Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the Mabon, also known as the Autumn Equinox, in a variety of ways. Here are a few common practices:

• Giving thanks: Mabon is a time to give thanks for the bounties of the harvest, many Pagans and Wiccans use this time to reflect on all they are thankful for and to give thanks for the abundance in their lives.

• Balance and Harmony rituals: This is a time of balance between light and dark, day and night, life and death, so many Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the equinox by holding rituals and practices that focus on balance and harmony.

• Ancestor rituals: Many pagans also honor their ancestors at this time of the year, remembering them and asking for their guidance and protection

• Nature walks and meditation: Some Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the Mabon by taking a walk in nature, either alone or with a group. This may include meditation, visualization, and other practices to connect with the natural world and the energy of the season

• Decorating: Some decorate their homes and altars with autumnal decorations such as corn, gourds, leaves, and other items that represent the harvest, and to infuse their homes with the energy of the season

• Feasting: Mabon is also a time for community and sharing, so many Pagans and Wiccans will celebrate by sharing a meal with friends and loved ones, some may also hold communal feast with their covens or pagan groups

As with other pagan celebrations, the exact practices and rituals can vary depending on the individual or group and the tradition they follow, some may celebrate more extensively or intensively, and others may celebrate less.