The Autumn Equinox is when day and night are equal. A moment is taken to pay respects to the approaching darkness. Gratitude is given to the waning sunlight, as the harvest of this year’s crops is stored. The first harvest festival is Lughnasadh in August and the third and final celebration in Samhain in October. Enjoy feast recipes.
Druid Celebration
Mea'n Fo'mhair honors The Green Man, God of the Forest, by offerings of wines, ciders and herbs. The Goddess is commemorated as she passes from Mother to Crone. Mabon is an occasion of the Mysteries and to honor deities and the spirit world.
Finery is worn in shades of red, maroon, violet, orange, gold, brown, yellow, russet and indigo. Jewelry is made with yellow topaz and agate, carnelian, sapphire, amethyst and sapphire, crystals. The feast includes breads, nuts, acorns, grains, corn, beans, squash, root vegetables, some seasoned with sage, dried fruits, pomegranates, grapes and apples spiced with cinnamon and cloves, ale, wine and cider. It’s a gathering of family as people ready for Samhain and a time to finish old business for a phase of reflection, rest and relaxation.
Activities include scattering offerings in harvested fields, making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and pods, walking in the woods and adorning graves with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have gone on. Spellwork is for protection, harmony, prosperity, balance, security, and self-confidence.
The animals of Mabon are dogs, wolves, stags, salmon, goats and raptors, especially eagles and owls, and black birds.
Influence on a Christian Holiday
European Pagans celebrated this Sabbat on the Eve on September 24th until the Eve of the 25th when it was believed the sun entered the sign of Libra.
September 25th was a medieval holiday which the Church Christianized as Michaelmas, a feast honoring the Archangel Michael. The Vernal Equinox was also a holiday, Gabrielmas, in commemoration of the Archangel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary. The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is called the Harvest Moon because farmers harvested their crops by this moonlight as part of the Second Harvest festival.
Feast Recipes
- Glazed Ham: Combine 3/4 cups dark brown sugar, 1/3 c orange juice, 1 Tbs Dijon mustard and 1/3 cup honey in saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes. Put a five pound ham in a roasting pan. Baste with glaze. Bake ham in preheated 325 degree oven uncovered for one hour, brushing with glaze every fifteen minutes,
- Rice Pilaf: Melt 4 Tbs margarine in large pan. Add 1 ½ c rice, 1 c orzo, and 1 Tbs crumbled dried parsley. Cook over medium high heat until pasta is golden. Pour in 5 c hot water, 1 tsp sage and 5 chicken bouillon cubes. The mixture will sizzle when the liquid is added. Boil. Add 1/3 c sliced mushrooms. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until rice is fluffy and liquid is absorbed. Stir pilaf from time to time, adding water as needed. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Sautéed Carrots: Braise 1 drained can baby carrots and 1 ½ chopped parsley in 1 Tbs melted margarine until carrots are golden.
- Corn Bread Nut Bread: Follow directions on one package corn muffin mix. Stir into batter ½ c ground nuts and bake as directed.
Related Topics:
Mabon, Fall Equinox-Second Harvest
Sources:
The Celtic Druid's Year, John King, (Blandford, 1995)
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, ScottCunningham, (Llewellyn Publications, 1992)
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