Mabon, The Autumnal Equinox is one of my favorite chapters in Wheel of the Year because it's a major turning point for my archaeologist character, Edana (Edie). In this chapter, with the help of amateur, local historian Michael, she begins to appreciate the living history of the stone circles and the importance of how modern people interact with them. This is such an important anthropological addition to her fascination with understanding the ancients' reasoning for moving and erecting the megalithic 20 ton stones. It's funny what we do subconsciously as authors. Mabon, Samhain, and the Winter Solstice are my favorite festivals, and I think they contain some of the most pivotal action in the book.
Mabon is the Gaelic word that describes the dark overwhelming the light. Mabon is the day that ends the predominance of sunlight, and gives way to the increasing length of night. To the ancients this meant less sunlight for farming and work. It was a time to celebrate the incredibly difficult work of spring planting, summer growing, and late summer harvest and slowly ease into the rest of the Autumn and Winter seasons, which were geared more toward gathering and preserving. The cornucopias and gourds that still symbolize this time of year began as symbols of the celebration of abundance for our ancestors. Below I've listed some ways in which you can celebrate Mabon and usher in the Fall season this weekend. Let me know in the comments which you plan to do!
Make your own wreath Using wheat, hay, dried herbs, or corn shucks.
Assemble a basket for a local food pantry: Take your children to the grocery store and assemble some non-perishable food items to provide a harvest bounty for those in need.
Roast Nuts Also called Fe'ill Roi'd in Gaelic, children gathered nuts and roasted them in warming herbs and spices, then jarred for the season
Go Apple Picking Carry Baskets to your local apple orchard instead of using their plastic bags. Don't forget to bring one to your teacher! If you have too many to eat, consider making cider, applesauce, dried apples, or apple candle holders. You can also put dried apples out for wildlife.
Build a Bonfire and sit in a circle with friends, toasting to one another's health and prosperity for winter.
Host a Harvest potluck and dance afterward! Many a harvest supper in the olden days concluded with dancing and singing, a beautiful community display of joy
Watch the sunset and sunrise on the Equinox and honor the equality and balance of the night and day.
Honor the Harvest Moon with the Scottish tradition of burning bundles of grain stuffed with a couple of peas or beans. The first person to spot a pea has found the love of their life! (Most Scottish traditions are romantic this way!)
Visit Horses! In the Scottish Highlands Michaelmas (September 21st) was also called riding day, and a day to honor the ride. Falling off was actually good luck!
Say a Harvest blessing:
Hail to the east, the winds that have blessed us
be gentle of breeze and gentle of gust.
Hail to the south, to the warm that does linger
keep us sweetly with wood and with cinder.
Hail to the west, to the waters and wet
give moisture to us and nourish the rest!
Hail to the north, the earth turned and tilled,
give to us the place where our seeds may be spilled.
Circle, full circle, we come to this point
When the harvest is waning though our spirits are buoyant
Into this circle we call those who labor
Once we give thanks, this blessed feast we'll savor --
We gather together with gratitude and grace,
to give thanks for the harvest and give due to the fates!
The Astrological Equinox falls on September 22nd this year
Have a Wonderful Harvest Season!
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