Autumn equinox

Autumn Equinox, Mabon

The Autumn Equinox is one of the key holidays of the wheel of the year.

One of the last doors of the agricultural year which announces the closing of the season and as during the last full moon before the equinox marks the now imminent approach of winter.


It's time to take stock of what we have sown during the year and what we have harvested, it is a time of preparation both from a spiritual and symbolic point of view but also from a material one.

The Autumnal Equinox is that moment of the Earth's revolution around the Sun in which the latter is at the zenith of the equator. From the autumnal equinox, the sun's strength begins to decrease, until the winter solstice, when the sun begins to grow in intensity and the days become longer than the nights again.


This holiday has therefore always been very important, depending on the harvest, it is a time of balance where the light begins to disperse favoring the darkness.
In some traditions this festival was called Mabon, the young God of vegetation, hunting and harvests, son of Modron, whose cult was widespread throughout northern Britain.


The pronunciation of Mabon is referred to as “mèiban”. With neo-paganism in memory of these ancient populations, the holiday linked to the autumnal equinox is celebrated with the name of this God, Mabon. A precise date is mistakenly established for this holiday, as it has always been linked to the Equinox, for this reason it is a mistake, for example, to celebrate the holiday on 21 September as we often see this date associated with the Mabon holiday.

As already mentioned, Mabon in Celtic mythology and Welsh tradition is the God of harvests and youth. Since ancient times this holiday has been celebrated on the day of the autumnal equinox, in different parts of the world this important date was celebrated, but it can vary, which is why it is a mistake to celebrate the same indicative date every year.

Subsequently in neo-paganism with the introduction of the wheel of the year and the eight sabbats the day of the autumnal equinox is celebrated under the name of Mabon during the day that falls on the autumnal equinox, a name attributed in reference to the linked divinity to the harvest.
Obviously, an indicative period of 3 days ranging from 21 to 23 September can be used as a reference and the entire period can be celebrated regardless of when the equinox falls, but according to our personal opinion it is necessary to calculate the exact day for a correct celebration and if it cannot be celebrated on the day on which the Equinox or solstice falls. a short celebration can be held the following day, but not the day before.

According to tradition, during this day walks in the woods were organised, plants, leaves, berries and other natural components with which the house was decorated were collected, dishes linked to typical late harvest foods were prepared and an account was given of what this year had brought into our material and spiritual lives.
A silent moment of quiet and meditation where the warm colors begin to envelop us, joining the cold ones of the winter now upon us.
This holiday is also a time to celebrate the ancient forces and spirits of the world, celebrate the ancestors, give thanks and feel fulfilled, relax and be happy with your journey.

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