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Mabon is one of the lesser-known but deeply meaningful festivals on the Wheel of the Year. Falling on the Autumn Equinox—when day and night are equal in length—Mabon is a time of balance, gratitude, and preparation for the coming darker half of the year. While many witches and pagans celebrate Mabon as a modern harvest festival, its roots run deep in Celtic lore and Welsh mythology. Let’s explore where this holiday comes from, the myths surrounding its name, and how you can celebrate Mabon today in meaningful ways.
What Is Mabon?
At its core, Mabon is about gratitude for the harvest and balance between light and dark.
Mabon is the second of the three harvest festivals in the Wheel of the Year (following Lughnasadh in August and preceding Samhain in October--more on those later). It takes place around September 21st–23rd, depending on the date of the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. The word “Mabon” is fairly modern, but the themes of harvest, balance, and thanksgiving are ancient and universal.
At its core, Mabon is about gratitude for the harvest and balance between light and dark. Just like the Spring Equinox (Ostara), the Autumn Equinox marks a point in the year where day and night are equal. From this point forward, the nights grow longer, guiding us toward winter and introspection.
Celtic Roots of Mabon
The Celts did not leave written records of their festivals, so much of what we know about their celebrations comes from later folklore, archaeological evidence, and comparative mythology. While the name “Mabon” itself wasn’t used by the Celts, they celebrated seasonal shifts through feasts, offerings, and community gatherings.
The equinox likely held importance as a time of balance and as a harvest feast, when communities would gather crops, prepare for winter, and honor the earth for its abundance. Rituals may have included:
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Offerings of food and drink to deities and spirits
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Community feasts with seasonal fruits, grains, and meats
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Fires lit to honor the sun as it began to wane in strength
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Ceremonies to ensure protection and abundance through the colder months
The themes of gratitude, balance, and preparation for winter are very much in line with Celtic spirituality and their close connection to the cycles of nature.
The Myth of Mabon ap Modron
The name “Mabon” as used for the holiday actually comes from Mabon ap Modron, a figure from Welsh mythology recorded in the Mabinogion. Mabon’s name means “Son of the Mother”—he was the son of the goddess Modron. According to the story, Mabon was taken from his mother just three nights after his birth and imprisoned. No one knew where he was, and he became known as a mysterious figure connected to youth and rebirth.
In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, Mabon is eventually rescued by King Arthur and his men with the help of several wise and ancient animals—the Blackbird of Cilgwri, the Stag of Rhedynfre, the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy, and the Salmon of Llyn Llyw. These animals, some of the oldest beings in existence, guided the heroes to find Mabon. When freed, Mabon became a warrior and a companion of Arthur.
Symbolically, Mabon represents:
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Youth and vitality
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A child of promise, stolen away but later restored
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The cycle of death and rebirth
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The hidden mysteries of the Otherworld
By connecting this myth to the Autumn Equinox, modern pagans see Mabon as a time of reflection on what has been lost, what is hidden, and what can be restored through balance and renewal.
Why We Call the Holiday Mabon
The use of “Mabon” as the name for the Autumn Equinox sabbat is relatively modern. It was first popularized in the 1970s by Aidan Kelly, an American neopagan who sought to give each sabbat on the Wheel of the Year a name drawn from myth or history. While some pagans prefer simply to call this holiday the Autumn Equinox or Harvest Home, “Mabon” has become widely accepted in Wiccan and pagan communities.
Although the historical Celts likely didn’t use this name, it captures the mythic symbolism of balance, renewal, and the cycles of life and death. For many, the story of Mabon resonates with the season’s themes of transition and letting go.
How Modern Pagans Celebrate Mabon
Photo by Laura Ohlman on Unsplash
Today, pagans, witches, and spiritual seekers celebrate Mabon in ways that combine ancient harvest traditions with modern practices. Here are some common and meaningful ways to honor the season:
1. Create a Mabon Altar
Decorate with symbols of the harvest and balance:
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Apples, pumpkins, gourds, and corn
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Acorns, pinecones, and autumn leaves
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Crystals like citrine, carnelian, or amber
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Colors of the season: red, orange, gold, brown
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A balance symbol, such as scales or a sun-and-moon image
2. Cook and Feast with Seasonal Foods
Food is one of the most powerful ways to celebrate Mabon. Cook with autumn’s bounty:
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Apple pies, ciders, and butters
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Squash soups and roasted root vegetables
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Freshly baked bread
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Grapes, nuts, and wine
Sharing a meal with family, friends, or your spiritual community honors the abundance of the harvest.
3. Practice Gratitude
Take time to reflect on what you are thankful for this year. Journal your blessings, create a gratitude jar, or share your thanks aloud in ritual. Gratitude aligns perfectly with the harvest spirit of Mabon.
4. Balance Rituals and Meditation
Since the equinox is a time of balance, use it to center yourself:
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Light a candle and place it between two objects representing opposites (light/dark, past/future, inner/outer).
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Meditate on where you feel out of balance in your life.
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Set intentions for how you can restore harmony in the coming season.
5. Offerings to the Earth
Leave an offering of bread, fruit, wine, or flowers in nature to honor the spirits of the land, your ancestors, or deities you work with. Always give respectfully and with biodegradable items.
6. Mabon Crafts and Activities
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Make an herbal sachet with rosemary, sage, or cinnamon for protection.
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Press colorful autumn leaves to decorate your altar.
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Weave a corn dolly as a symbol of the harvest.
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Create an apple wreath or grapevine centerpiece.
7. Shadow Work and Release
As the light wanes, Mabon is a powerful time for inner reflection:
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Journal about habits, thoughts, or relationships you’re ready to release.
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Burn or bury a written list of what no longer serves you.
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Prepare yourself for the inner journey of Samhain and winter.
Photo by Stefan Cosma on Unsplash
Bringing Mabon Into Daily Life
Mabon is not just about tradition—it’s about connection.
Even outside of formal ritual, there are simple ways to live in tune with Mabon energy:
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Take a nature walk and gather seasonal items mindfully.
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Cook a meal with local, seasonal produce.
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Light a candle at sunset to honor the balance of light and dark.
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Practice kindness and generosity, sharing your “harvest” with others.
Remember, Mabon is not just about tradition—it’s about connection. It’s a reminder to pause, give thanks, and prepare for the cycles ahead.
Final Thoughts
Mabon is a holiday of gratitude, balance, and transition. Though the name comes from Welsh mythology and was only recently applied to the equinox, the themes it represents are timeless. From the story of Mabon ap Modron to the ancient Celtic harvest traditions, the equinox reminds us that life is a cycle of gain and loss, light and darkness, endings and beginnings.
By celebrating Mabon today—whether through feasting, gratitude, ritual, or simply pausing to honor the shift of the seasons—we step into alignment with the earth’s rhythms and reconnect with the magick of balance. This season invites us to gather our blessings, release what no longer serves us, and walk forward into the dark half of the year with wisdom and strength.
Blessed Mabon! May your harvest be abundant, your balance restored, and your spirit nourished by the turning of the seasons.[AR]
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