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Mabon
The autumn equinox
Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the celebration
of the Autumn Equinox, which occurs in 2005 on September 22nd at 22:22 p.m.
The word "equinox" is derived from Latin term "æquinoctium" which, in turn, came
from "æquus" (equal), and "nox" (night). It refers to the phenomenon that occurs
but twice a year, a day and night of equal proportion, each being twelve hours
in duration.
The seasons of the year are as a result of the 23.5º tilt of the earth's axis.
The earth rotates like a gyroscope, and points in a fixed direction towards a
point in space close to the North Star. Yet because the earth also revolves
around the sun, the northern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than the
southern hemisphere for half of the year. During the rest of the year, the
reverse is true. As we know, the sun is at its highest point at the time of the
Summer Solstice (about June 21st) and lowest at the Winter Solstice (around
December 21st in the northern hemisphere. The halfway points between these two
events are known as the equinoxes.
Mabon is the solar festival that marks the Autumn Equinox – the transition from
the light half to the dark half of the year. The autumn quarter of the year runs
from Lammas/Lughnasadh (the time of the orthodox harvest festival) to Samhain
(Halloween), so Mabon marks the mid-point of autumn. By the time of Mabon, the
earth is displaying unmistakable signs of the journey to winter – the nights are
rapidly drawing in, leaves are beginning to turn autumnal shades, and birds are
preparing for migration.
The Celebration of Mabon
Mabon is the time of harvesting apples, blackberries, grapes and hops, as the
arable crops have now all been gathered and celebrated at Lammas, the first of
the harvest festivals. Mabon recognises the completion of the grain harvest that
began during Lammas and it is an occasion of great joy and sorrow - a time of
change and transition. We are at this time symbolically between the worlds as we
mourn that which is passing; long days, a warm and fruitful earth, and bountiful
harvests. This is a time of realization that the Wheel of the Year has again
turned and will continue to turn towards, that time is an entity of cyclical
nature - there is no end but only new beginnings; births, deaths and re-births.
So although Mabon is a celebration of successful harvests and the bounty
mother-earth has provided, it is also an acknowledgement of and preparation for
the winter to come. This is a time when folk traditionally measured their
success by the food and provisions they had managed to harvest to see them
through the long winter months – success meant a comfortable winter season,
whereas a less fruitful bounty boded of severe hardship.
Hence Mabon is a time of preparation for winter survival, a fact that is
apparent throughout the natural world. It is at this time that the squirrels
begin to gather and store their winter food, lairs are being lined with autumn
leaves and we begin to see the first of the ducks and geese starting their long
winter journeys.
Survival is very much the key word for Mabon. The rutting stags of autumn
display this sentiment most fiercely as they battle for the hind harems. They
begin in early September for a six-week battle period, at the end of which the
victor will claim the harem as his right, with the unsuccessful fighters
ostracized to the edge of the herd.
Mabon Lore
Mabon is also known as the Feast of Avalon and the festival of the Wine Harvest.
Avalon is the mystical burial site of the Celts, and literally means the "land
of apples" in Celtic lore. In addition, the festival is also named after the
Welsh God Mabon. Mabon means the "great son". In Celtic mythology Mabon was the
son of Modron the Mother Goddess, kidnapped at three days old by the Lord of the
Underworld who wanted to stop his light shining on the Earth. Mabon escaped (or
according to other Arthurian legend was rescued by King Arthur) and returned the
light to the world. Thus the link to the equinox in the folklore of Mabon (a
story of the battle between light and dark) is highly evident as this event
marks the start of autumn, but is also the perfect balance of day and night.
The God Mabon is also representative of the circle of life in the sense that he
epitomises the innocence of youth, the strength of survival and the wisdom
gained throughout life. Perhaps then, this link with the life cycle explains
another guise of Mabon - King of the Otherworld and the God of Darkness.
The legend of Mabon coincides with other Gods such as the Welsh God Gwyn Ap Nuad,
meaning, "white son of darkness". He is seen as the God of war and death, the
patron God of fallen warriors. Again, this is a representation or connection to
the mythical land of Avalon.
To the Druids this celebration is known as “Mea'n Fo'mhair”, and honours the
Green Man, the God of the Forest, with libations and offerings to their sacred
trees. Wiccans also celebrate the maturing Goddess as she passes from Mother to
Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for his death and re-birth.
The significance of Mabon
Mabon as a holiday or time of celebration is a period of release and of letting
go. It is a time to honour those who have passed and a way of saying goodbye to
the summer. The themes of closing, letting go and remembering should be
observed; for the year, the harvest and for those we have lost during the year
and years past.
Although in the main we view the Harvest season as a celebration of life, it is
also a celebration of death. The bounty you gather from your garden, and that
which is harvested from the fields provides nourishment for you and your loved
ones. Yet we must also consider that it is the demise of those plants and
vegetables from which we gain our sustenance. Furthermore, it is the fallow
period that follows the harvest that allows the earth to regenerate and sustain
us anew. Thus Mabon is a celebration of the cycle of life; a holiday for
celebrating the bounty of the harvest, the imminent latency of the earth, the
remembrance of loved ones passed and all the ways in which they enriched our
lives – it is not a time of melancholy, more so of celebration of the circle of
life and all that it gives and teaches us.
On a personal level also, the celebration of Mabon reminds us of the need for
restful periods. These times allow us to regenerate and learn from the lessons
of the year that has passed thus far. Acceptance is the key, for in life things
happen, decisions are made, and actions occur as a consequence - we cannot go
back and change that which has passed, only accept that which has happened.
However we can reap the harvest of wisdom that these incidences, decisions and
consequences bring. Our lives are shaped by such things, they make us the
multi-faceted people that we are, and Mabon is a wonderful time to give thanks
for all the events that have shaped our lives, for all that we perceive as
wonderful and all is not, for they are part of the whole which makes each and
every one of us unique. Now is the time to look back on the past and forward to
the future and to exult in what we are and what we may become, the ways in which
our lives have changed in such a short space of time – the leaps and bounds we
have made, and the mistakes we have learned from. With contemplation of rebirth
and the future return of the abundance of the spring and summer months, take
this time to meditate on these aspects of your life, sit back, reassess and take
stock.
Celebrating Mabon as a family
The relevance of Mabon to the individual is evident, but how does this translate
to family life? As we know, Mabon is considered a time of balance, it is when we
stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they are
from our careers, raising our families, working in our gardens, or just coping
with everyday life. If this is the time for us to take the opportunity to look
at our lives and reassess where we are going, what we have so far achieved and
what it is that we are still seeking, so it can also be for our families. Mabon
is a time to consider which aspects of your life you wish to preserve and which
you would prefer to discard. This relates incredibility well to family life.
Prepare a lovely Mabon meal with your family - the use of seasonal vegetables is
perfect, especially from your own garden. Picking blackberries earlier in the
day is a lovely traditional past time, and all the more fun for the fruits of
your labour – blackberry pie and cream for pudding please! If you are feeling
creative, have fun making a lovely centrepiece for the table with your children.
An arrangement of autumn leaves, apples and berries is lovely. Sit down
together, and during your meal, share tales and happy stories about those you
lost during the year. Or share your experiences and chat about the lessons you
feel you have learned during this past season. Reflect on your deeds and actions
and give thanks for knowledge you were endowed with as a result. You may find
upon reflection that your family life has become automated, or stuck in a
familiar pattern. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but as the old saying
goes, “a change is as good as a rest”. For example, you could perhaps decide to
plan a family event once a month, or more often if time and finances allow, as
this creates an opportunity to spend some time together, which is something for
everyone to look forwards too. You could decide to begin a new phase of
development with your younger children – a new challenge. Discuss new hobbies
and interests with your older children, or even better, a hobby that could
include the whole family such as rambling or bird watching. Mabon is a wonderful
time to really appreciate each other, and reminisce about the events of the year
so far. A cosy night in together can engender some surprising conversations with
your children. Discuss their hopes and fears, ease their troubles, and allow
them the space and sense of security to openly talk about the things they regret
without judgement. Simply airing these things can be enough to learn from them
and banish any residual feelings of negativity and guilt – so good for the soul!
Mabon is also a good time to brooch the subject of death, as we have already
mentioned. This sounds morbid I know, but it doesn’t have to be seen this way.
Of course it is not suggested that we do not miss our loved ones, but to focus
on celebrating their lives, and the wonderful people that they were is such a
positive thing to do, a real gift if you can give this to your children. It is a
good time to let your children feel their sadness, cry and be comforted, and
then share happy memories, and laugh out loud.
For younger children, the subject of death can be something as simple as
watching the leaves fall from the trees. Talk about the changes in colour, and
what it signifies. Run about in the fallen leaves, and collect some, a myriad of
different shades to take home and make collages with. Discuss the cycle of the
year – the flowers blooming, the fruit or seeds budding on the trees, the
harvests of fruit and the inevitable of shedding of leaves. Mother Nature gives
us all the gentle and beautiful ways we need to discuss the tricky subject of
death!
So, this Mabon cut away the chaff, the useless things and situations that are
holding up your life. Sit back a take stock of all the progress you have made,
and reflect upon how you can spread some of your good fortune around to others.
What changes can you make for the better? How can you work to balance any
conflict that is around you? Mabon begins with the sign of Libra and it is no
coincidence, in this time of natural balance, that Libra's symbol is a set of
scales. It is also time to truly appreciate the special people in your life.
These things are your modern day "Harvest."
The Wheel of the year continues to turn, the nights steadily get longer, the
days shorter and the weather cooler still and on the night of Mabon, we know
that we accomplished much and the hard work is done. The light from the sun is
still golden, warming the earth and ripening the last of the year’s natural
bounty. We can look forward to this time of contemplation, of the warmth and
comfort of our homes surrounded with people we love. Give thanks!
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