Autumn Equinox, the Second Harvest, Falls Between September 21 - 23
Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the (neopagan) Wiccan name for the Autumn Equinox, which is also called the “Second Harvest.” The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and the Wiccans take a moment to pay their respects to the impending dark half of the year, according to the Celtic “Wheel of the Year.” They also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as they store the harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.
The Wiccans celebrate with rituals, called “Sabbats,” at these special times of the year. The Autumnal Equinox is known as a “Lesser Sabbat.” Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year. The symbolism of Mabon for Wiccans is the Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance
At this festival, it is the drawing to family as they prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain on October 31st.
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