Fall is definitely in the air here in the Nevada wasteland. When in town this week I noticed some tree’s changing. My room was actually cool last night instead of stifling hot. As the wheel turns to cooler weather, dropping leaves, and mulled apple cider, my thoughts are turning to Mabon (Fall Equinox).
There are three harvest sabbats on the Wiccan wheel of the year: Lammas, Mabon, and everyone’s favorite Samhain. Mabon 2022 falls on September 22 this year when day and night are equal. It also designates the modern end of summer and beginning of fall. As a random thought (I have many), is there something to the fact that Mabon 2022 is on the 22nd day of the month? Numerologists out there, let me know below in the comments.
Cultural Celebrations
A lot of modern holidays are based on ancient celebrations. As civilizations grew from a roaming hunting and gathering culture to more permanent agricultural community, the eyes of the people were set to the sky for indicators of when to plant and harvest. For the Fall Equinox, the harvest was in full swing. During most years, abundance was everywhere. It was let known in the community that the day and night were again equal and today was to celebrate, for tomorrow the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and preparations must be made for the upcoming months. Their celebrations included looking for the Borealis in the night sky, villages decorated with lanterns, or a huge community wide “potluck” sharing the year’s bounty.
Modern Celebrations
I look back into my past and there didn’t seem to be a celebration for the equinoxes. It was mentioned but no major decorating, etc. Most fall celebrations were saved for Halloween. I do remember my Aunt would make dried apple dolls in the fall. She would carve a face in an apple, surround it with clothes made from cornhusks or doll clothes and let the apple dry. This a very interesting process to this young girl who idolized her crazy Aunt Marg. Although all my older relatives were definitely Christian, there was a lot of pagan in the women <wink wink>.
Cultural celebrations still occur across the globe in China, Japan, Europe, agricultural communities in the United States, and even in the near east. I think it is human to want to throw a potluck and party for whatever reason we can find. Look around, schools are having their fall carnivals, television networks begin their new seasons, stores are having fall sales, the list could go on.
Image by railroadman777 from Pixabay
Modern Pagan Celebrations
I think Mabon has a special meaning to me as my daughter’s birthday sometimes falls on Mabon. Her birthday celebration was my covert Mabon ritual. Not really, but I do tease her about it even though this will be her 30th autumn celebration on earth.
Mabon is a time of gathering, a time of sharing, a time celebration for what the year has thus brought to us. Although some years, like this one, are filled with personal loss, this is the time to give thanks for what abundance was still found. This year I WANT to fall decorate for the first time in DECADES. I live in a multi-generational home as I have since 2009. My mother was the last of her generation in this house. With her passing, my son, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter moved in keeping the three generations in place. I think this weekend we will go get some construction paper, some tape/pins, get the cricut out and look for printables to cut up and hang. Fall leaves, pumpkins, apples, you get the idea. With my daughter and DIL’s help, we will make the house a fall wonderland before Mabon.
On Mabon, I will prepare a feast with a smoked chuck roast (poor man’s brisket), squash, carrots, potatoes, maybe even some sweet potato pie and invite family friends. If it keeps raining over the next several days (been a very dry year in the Great Basin), we may even be able to light up the firepit out in the yard for ritual.
Ritual
If you have read any of my other posts, you will know I DO NOT write rituals for the blog. There are literally 104,000 hits to a simple google of “mabon ritual.” I will, however, point you in the right direction so you can create your own meaningful ritual.
The ritual can be about harvest and abundance. What abundance has the year brought you? Sometimes we have to think hard. I lost my mom, then my best friend, then her husband, then my aunty, and my faithful buddy Java the husky, the list goes on. Now is not the time to dwell on what was lost, but what was brought in: life where I see my grandbaby every morning as she gets out of bed, a new prosperous job for my son, a house (warts and all), a new close relationship with and respect for my baby sister, the ducks and the laughter they bring, and so much joy in watching my DIL and the granddaughter, you see where I’m going. When you write your thanks to a deity, express it with joy.
After the ritual, show your respect for the abundance by sharing with either the community (if you can) or your friends and family through a delicious meal, great wine, and lots of joy.
Let me know below in the comments how this article helped you or what you plan on doing on Mabon.
As it is above, shall it below. Blessings my Witchlings.