Mabon! (rituals, Earth, tradition, America, myth)

[Green Gaia]

Mabon is one of the eight solar holidays or sabbats of American Neopaganism. It is celebrated on the autumn equinox, which in the northern hemisphere is circa September 21 and in the southern hemisphere is circa March 21.

Also called Harvest Home or simply Autumn Equinox, this holiday is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months.

Among the sabbats, it is the second of the three harvest festivals, preceded by Lammas and followed by Samhain.

Mabon was not an authentic ancient festival either in name or date. The autumn equinox was not celebrated in Celtic countries, while all that is known about Anglo-Saxon customs of that time was that September was known as haleg-monath or 'holy month'.

The name Mabon has only been applied to the neopagan festival of the autumn equinox very recently; the term was invented by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s as part of a religious studies project. (The use of Litha for the Summer Solstice is also attributed to Kelly). Previously, in Gardnerian Wicca the festival was simply known as the 'Autumnal Equinox', and many neopagans still refer to it as such, or use alternative titles such as the neo-Druidical Aban Efed, a term invented by Iolo Morgannwg.

The name Mabon was chosen to impart a more authentic-sounding "Celtic" feel to the event, since all the other festivals either had names deriving from genuine tradition, or had had names grafted on to them. The Spring Equinox had already been misleadingly termed 'Ostara', and so only the Autumn Equinox was left with a technical rather than an evocative title. Accordingly, the name Mabon was given to it, having been drawn (seemingly at random) from Welsh mythology.

The use of the name Mabon is much more prevalent in America than Britain, where many neopagans are scornfully dismissive of it as a blatantly inauthentic practice. The increasing number of American Neopagan publications sold in Britain by such publishers as Llewellyn has however resulted in some British neopagans adopting the term.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Darkdale]

Also know as "Winter Finding" to many Asatruar or to the Anglo-Saxon Traditions:

Haligmonath (September) Autumn Equinox
Bede tells us that this month is so called 'because our ancestors, when they were heathen, paid their devil tribute in that month'. This was the time of the harvest festival for the Heathen Anglo-Saxons, and as the name of the month Haligmonath translates to modern English as Holy month, means that this month is a very sacred and holy time. In ancient days the reaping of crops would have taken place, and as Bede also described this month as the month of offerings, the offering of gifts to the gods/goddesses would have taken place, similar to that of Solmonath when the gifts of cakes were placed in the earth. Praise should be given to Nerthus/Erce the Earth Mother for providing food of the earth and sustaining life. Appropriate decoration for the home or place of celebration would be that of crops, fruit and much foliage, and also the use of the Gera rune symbol, which represents the harvest. Baked and eaten at this time of year are harvest cakes, which can also be decorated with the Gera rune symbol. The corn dolly is another item, which can be used as a form of decoration, as this can also be used as a symbolic representation of the Earth Mother herself.

[michel]

There is, to my mind, a lot of beauty in the pagan rituals I have read of since being on this forum. Thanks for sharing that both of you.

[SuKa]

A few of my friends celebrate Mabon every year. I used to, when I lived in another town which had significantly less Christians than some other towns. Actually, my mom and I used to, together. She'd call over some of her friends and we'd hold a circle. I used to think that circles were just games, to run around until we would get dizzy, but now I see the importance of one.

[Feathers in Hair]

I love it! I've gone and gotten some 'fall' fare- apples and cider and what-not. The day is also associated with the goddess Persephone (Kore), as she makes her journey to the underworld for the year. Here's a good meditation from my "Witches' Datebook"

At the Autumnal Equinox, Persephone descends beneath the Earth to become the Queen of the Underworld until spring. To reenact this journey, you need to have access to a set of stairs, preferably to a basement, that you can have exclusive use of for the ritual. Choose seven pieces of clothing and jewelry that can symbolize seven gates to the underworld. We use shoes, sash or cords, robe, ring, athame, necklace and crown. Take off all other clothing and put on those seven items.

Start off at the top of the stairs and say, "I will journey with you, Great Queen, to your home in the underworld." Take two steps down, remove your shoes, and say "I pass the first gate and lay down my shoes." Take two more steps down, remove your sash, and say "I pass the second gate, and lay down my sash." Proceed down the steps until you come to the bottom. There, take up a dish with pomegranate seeds, pomegranate wine, or other dark red wine. Meditate on the underworld, the place of death and knowledge. Eat the seeds or drink the wine. Then return up the stairs, gathering what you have discarded as you go, but not looking behind you."

I don't think I'll be using this ritual tonight, but I wanted to suggest it for anyone who might be interested. Today, for me, is the celebration of being a mediator, a person who walks in two worlds.

Anyone want a candied apple?