Mabon also known as the fall equinox, marks the turning point of the fall. This holiday marks the second harvest, and preparation for winter. Astrologically, the equinox is when the sun passes into the sign of Libra, the sign of the Scales. Depending on the tradition, this day is observed sometime between September 21st and September 25th. This time of year is also known as the Wine Harvest, Cornucopia, and the Second Harvest. The full moon closest to the equinox is the one officially designated as the Harvest Moon.

This pagan holiday is actually the one that is most like the American holiday of Thanksgiving. The harvest of crops is celebrated at this time of year, and already it's time to look ahead to the waning of the season and start make winter preparations. The spirit of the harvest, known in some traditions as John Barleycorn, is seen as dying at this time of year, a necessary sacrifice so that fall will turn to winter and in turn give birth to spring.

Rituals at this time of year celebrate the abundance with offerings of nature's bounty, expressing gratitude for the fruitfulness of the summer season. Having food preparation be part of the festivities adds a nice personal touch to holiday gatherings. If you do have corn, you can use the husks to fashion a Corn Mother, to hold the Spirit of the Corn after the fields are harvested. These are often kept hidden until Imbolc, when they are brought out and dressed as
the goddess Brighid.

Mabon Altar Adornments: Decorate Altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones, ears of corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Basket with dried leaves of various colors and kinds.

Herbs for Mabon: Marigold, Sunflowers, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Myrrh

Symbolism of Mabon: The completion of the Harvest begun. Day and night are equal and the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen.

Symbols of Mabon: all harvest symbols, corn, autumn flowers, red poppies,nuts, grains, leaves, acorns, pine and cypress cones, oak sprigs, wreaths, vine, grapes, cornucopia, horns of plenty, burial cairns, apples, marigolds, harvested crops. wine, gourds

Colors: Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Indigo, Maroon and Brown.

Mabon Deities: Modron(Welsh), Persephone, Demeter/Ceres, Mabon

Altar Decorations: acorns, pinecones, autumn leaves, pomegranate, statue of the Triple Goddess in her Mother phase.

Mabon Foods (check out our Mabon Recipes): Serve seasonal foods, as well as placing autumnal offerings on your altar. Fall fruits (apples, pomegranates), squash, grapes, cider, wine, corn, wheat or rye bread, gourds, seeds, nuts and acorns are all good fall choices. Potatoes, carrots and onions are also appropriate for Mabon altars and foods.

Animals: dogs, wolves, stag, blackbird, owl, eagle, birds of prey, salmon & goat, Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaur, Cyclops, Andamans and Gulons.

Element: water

Incense: pine, sweetgrass, apple blossom, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense, jasmine, sage wood aloes, black pepper, patchouly, cinnamon, clove, oak moss

Mabon Stones: During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help bring the Sun's energy to you.clear quartz, amber, citrine, tigers eye

Customs: offerings to land, preparing for cold weather by bringing in harvest, cutting willow wands( Druidic), leaving apples upon burial cairns & graves as a token of honor, walks in forests, gather seed pods & dried plants, fermenting grapes to make wine,picking ripe produce, stalk bundling

Spellworkings of Mabon: Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance. Taboos:It was considered unlucky to cut down the very last of the Harvest, and so was also left to stand in the field by some traditions.