pronounced “MAY-bohn” or “Mab-on”
With the changing of the seasons during Mabon we celebrate the balance of Light and Dark as we move into the darker months of the year. September 23 marks Mabon, the summers end and The Fall Equinox. Many cultures and societies call Mabon different names, such as the Feasts of Avalon, Wine Harvest, The Second Harvest, etc.
It’s interesting to note that celebrating The Fall Equinox as “Mabon” is a fairly new phenomena. Naming this time of year Mabon was invented by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s, and has ties to Welsh Mythology, Aurthurian Legend, and the Welsh Boy Name “Mabon.”
Mea’n Fo’mhair is a Druid name for this time of year, which is a time to honor the Green Man and Gods of the Forest by offering libations to trees in the form of drink and even fertilizer to foster growth. Alban Elfed is also a Druid term for the feast of The Fall Equinox, a time of balance between the Light and Dark.
Wine Harvests commonly happen this time of year so its no surprise that some cultures call Mabon and The Fall Equinox, the Wine Harvest. Here in Mid-West Grape Vine Country in South West Michigan, wineries have their own Wine Festival at this time of year. So its no surprise that Mabon would be a wine festival to celebrate the reaping of the year’s grape harvest.
The Feast of Avalon is an interesting alternate name for Mabon because it is this time of year we harvest apples from our orchards and Avalon is suppose to mean the land of apples. Connecting apples to Avalon must have given the people celebrating this time of year a direct connection to Arthurian Legend and Welsh Mythology to help set the tone for their rituals and worship during this time of year.
What do you call Mabon?
Mabon
The Autumn Equinox
The Fall Equinox
The Second Harvest
Wine Harvest
Feast of Avalon
Alban Elfed
Mea’n Fo’mhair
