Mabon, the Autumn Equinox: A Time of Thanks to Sol, Dark Mother and The Green Man.

Mabon is one of the seasonal festivities observed by modern day pagans that usually falls between the 21st and 23rd of September. In its simplest explanation, Mabon refers to autumnal equinox or the time of the year when the length of day equals that of the night. And aside from signaling the seasonal transition from summer to fall, this is also the harvest time in terms of agriculture. Other names of Mabon include Autumn Equinox, Harvest Home, Alban Elfed and Second Harvest.

For pagans, it’s the time to give thanks to the sunlight and pay respects to the impending dark. During this time, certain pagan groups honor the God of the Forest or what they call as The Green Man. But Mabon is not only a celebration for the pagans. Several individuals, families, and communities around the world celebrate during this time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and praying for another fruitful year.

Activities associated with the Mabon celebration include the decoration of homes, preparation of a lavish feast or foods associated with the harvest season, making food and fertilizer offerings to nature, general merrymaking and the chanting of prayers.

Decorating for Mabon

Home decorations are usually based on the symbolisms of Mabon. You can decorate your home with elements that symbolizes harvest, equality, balance, including mystery. Specific color themes are also observed in the celebration and are also associated with the harvest season or upcoming fall. You may choose to decorate your home in gold, brown, maroon, orange, yellow, red, and russet.

Perhaps, the most common and easiest yearly decors include the different agricultural products during this time which include apples, corn, grains, nuts, grapes and other berries, onions, gourds, etc. Aside from using harvested goods, you can also make decorative pieces from other plant elements like the grapevine, plant leaves, acorns, pine cones and hay.

You can create a pentacle using the vines or leaves. Or if you have extra time and skillful hands, you can build a scarecrow from hay. Other decoration ideas include handicrafts from making incense up to the idea of making prosperity candles.

Wee Witchling decorating the Mabon altar with Autumn leaves 🙂 ???? http://t.co/udckqHfbN3 — The Brown Witch (@DragonflyMarti) March 22, 2014

Preparing food for Mabon

Menus served for Mabon are related to the season as well. Most recipes include onions, carrots, potatoes, breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates and other greens or vegetables. Meat can be served as well. For the main course, you can prepare pot roast, beef stew, grilled chicken, apple cider baked chicken, turkey meatballs, wild mushroom rice pilaf, etc. For bread and pastries you can make harvest home rolls, cranberry pumpkin bread, honey white bread, sweet potato pie, herb bread, cakes and corn or apple muffin.

There are also several options when it comes to soups from a hearty squash soup up to the more savory chicken & leek soup, cream of tomato soup, beef & barley vegetable soup, and others. When it comes to desserts and sweets, the numerous types of sweetened apples dominate the occasion. You can also make buckeye candies, pomegranate sorbet, apple chips, apple or herb butter, and harvest candies.

Prayers for Mabon

Aside from decorating homes and preparing lavish dishes, pagans also chant prayers. Prayers are usually addressed towards the gods they believe in like the Dark Mother, the Gods of the Vine, prayer for abundance, balance, for home protection, and generally for thanksgiving. A sample Mabon prayer for abundance and thanksgiving is as follows:

We have so much before us

and for this we are thankful.

We have so many blessings,

and for this we are thankful.

There are others not so fortunate,

and by this we are humbled.

We shall make an offering in their name

to the gods who watch over us,

that those in need are someday

as blessed as we are this day.

Celebrating Mabon & Samhain….often followed by explaining how I am not a Satanist…. >.< #MyFallTraditions pic.twitter.com/WCKlhhrlSS — Enchantical (@Enchantical) September 11, 2015

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