Updated 23/09/2014

The Wheel Of The Year calendar comprises four Celtic fire festivals interspersed with two solstice and two equinox celebrations. September’s Equinox denotes the height of the Autumn season.

The Autumn Equinox is named variably as Modron (Mother Goddess) or Mabon (Divine Son) – deities from Welsh Mythology who can be found in The Legends Of King Arthur.

Modron is a harvest and fertility goddess who shares characteristics with the Roman Ceres. On the agricultural calendar Lughnasadh (August) is The First Harvest (grains and cereals) and The Autumn Equinox (September) is The Second Harvest (fruits and vegetables).

At the Equinox the year wanes, yet the harvest is plentiful. The ancient tribal people of The Western Hemisphere believed their Mother Goddess entered the third trimester of her pregnancy whilst her divine consort prepares his descent to the wintry underworld.

According to Arthurian Legend the fallen King Arthur is transported to Avalon, the “Isle Of Apples” to await his rebirth – an echo of the story of the dying god. The Autumn Equinox is the best time for apple-picking and the fruit has come to have many sacred and mystical associations.

Apples are used for a variety of regional folk customs, games and recipes at this time of year. Slicing an apple across the middle reveals a pentacle or star – the symbol of man in harmony with the elements.

Why not celebrate your Harvest Festival with some apple bobbing or by indulging in some candy apples?

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