Sabbat Series: Mabon
Stay tuned for this month’s Mabon episode on Cosmic Cauldron. You can find us on Spotify, Apple, and Anchor. In this episode, hosts Jaime Amanda and Charlotte Wilde cover the origins of Mabon and ways to celebrate this sabbat.
Names: Mabon; Autumn Equinox
Themes: Gratitude, Abundance, Harvest
Celebrated: Between 9/20 – 9/23
Mabon occurs on the Fall Equinox, so the exact date will vary. As an equinox, the length of day and night are equal. This is also considered a “Lesser Sabbat” as it does not occur on a cross-quarter day when the energy is believed to be most potent. However, if you’re incorporating sabbats into your practice as a way to celebrate and honor Mother Earth, this is an excellent sabbat to do just that.
The name Mabon was introduced in the 1970s and originated from Mabon, the son of Modron, the Welsh Earth Goddess. Mabon is the second harvest festival on the wheel of the year and has themes of prosperity, abundance, and gratitude. As such, Mabon is often referred to as the “Pagan Thanksgiving.” With this in mind, you can center your celebration on having a feast with your loved ones using Autumn harvested fruits and vegetables. Also, no pagan feast is complete without bread.
Like all the sabbats before, this sabbat is best celebrated in nature. This can be as simple as grilling out in your backyard in preparation for your feast, a walk in nature, or an adventure to a new lush location with autumn foliage. The choice is yours, but it’s always encouraged to take the time to connect with the spirit of the land, be it your own backyard or a brand new location.
Also, as the Autumn Equinox, this is the perfect time to update your altar as well as your home to honor the changing of seasons. This can be done by creating an autumn-inspired wreath, such as a wheat wreath, placing gourds and pumpkins around your abode, or bringing in some of the changing vegetation from outdoors to place on your altar.
Mabon Deities:
Mabon (Welsh): Son of Earth Goddess, Modron
Persephone (Greek): Queen of the Underworld + Vegetation
Demeter (Greek): Goddess of Agriculture
Green Man (Pagan/Wicca): God of Vegetation; Forrest Spirit
Correspondences:
Colors: Oranges, Browns, Bronze, Golds, Deep Reds, Deep Purples
Stones: Carnelian, Jasper, Tigers Eye, Amber, Agate, Citrine, Topaz
Herbs: Cinnamon, Garden Sage, Pine, Chamomile, Yarrow, Rosemary
Flowers: Honeysuckle, Roses, Ferns, Marigolds, Sunflowers
Incense: Myrrh, Rose, Cedar, Pine
Altar Decor: Early Autumn Foliage, Apples, Gourds, Cornucopia, Pine Cones, Pinwheels, Acorns
Foods: Apples, Pumpkin, Grapes, Bread, Autumn Harvests, Wine, Wheat