Mabon: The Thanksgiving of the Witches
On September 22nd, the wheel turns once more. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and for a brief moment, the day and night are perfectly equal. Welcome to Mabon, the Autumn Equinox.
What is Mabon?
Mabon (pronounced May-bon or Mah-bon) is the Second Harvest Festival (between Lughnasadh and Samhain). While Lughnasadh was about the grain, Mabon is about the fruits, vegetables, and the end of the hard labor. It is the Pagan equivalent of Thanksgiving—a time to rest, feast, and give thanks for the abundance of the earth before the winter sets in.
Astronomically, it is the Autumn Equinox. Just like at Ostara in the spring, light and dark are in perfect balance. But unlike the spring, we are now tilting toward the darkness. It is a time of wrapping up, storing away, and preparing to go inward.
The name "Mabon" is relatively modern (coined in the 1970s), derived from a Welsh mythological figure, Mabon ap Modron, the "Great Son."
When is it?
It occurs on the Autumn Equinox.
In 2026: It falls on Tuesday, September 22.
How is it Typically Celebrated?
Mabon is a "cozy" holiday, celebrated with food, reflection, and balance:
1. The Feast of the Harvest This is a food-centric holiday. Tables are piled high with the bounty of the season: squash, corn, root vegetables, and especially apples. A traditional Mabon meal is a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish made from a local seasonal ingredient.
2. Apple Magic The apple is the symbol of Mabon. When cut horizontally, the seeds form a perfect pentagram (a five-pointed star), representing the elements. People go apple picking, bake apple pies, and make cider. It is common to leave a few apples on the trees as an offering to the nature spirits or the birds.
3. "Dark and Light" Balance To honor the equinox, many people perform a simple ritual of balance. This might involve cleaning the house to organize for winter, or meditating on what needs to be "balanced" in their own lives (e.g., work vs. rest). Altars are decorated with autumn leaves, acorns, and candles of orange and brown.
4. The Cornucopia The Cornucopia (or Horn of Plenty) is filled with fruits and nuts and placed on the altar or table. It represents the generosity of the Goddess as the Harvest Queen, ensuring that there is enough food to last through the coming winter.
Mabon is the deep breath of the year. It is the moment we put down our tools, look at what we have gathered, and say: "It is enough."
