by Lisa Piper

Created on: September 15, 2010

Mabon is a sabbat that is like a Pagan form of Thanksgiving. It is the second harvest festival and falls on or around 21 September at the time of the Autumn Equinox.

The main focus of Mabon is the second harvest and the balance between darkness and light. This is the second time during the year when night and day are equal in length. This is also a celebration of the changing seasons.

There are many ways to celebrate Mabon, with one of the main festivities being a harvest. If you have your own garden, the Autumn Equinox is the day to harvest the herbs and vegetables you have grown and dry the herbs for use during the coming winter. Clean up your garden and prepare it for planting in the spring.

If you live in an apartment and don’t have your own garden, find out if there are any local orchards or fields located in your area. You and your family can go there and pick some apples or pumpkins.

Another major festivity during Mabon is the feast. This is a terrific time for friends and families to get together over dinner and talk about what everyone is grateful for. Some foods to enjoy during Mabon are bread, corn, cider, squash, apples, and yams. You can enjoy some wine and bake a pumpkin pie for dessert. While it is baking, the pie will fill the house with a wonderful aroma.

Be sure to spend some time thinking about the “crops” you have planted in your life throughout this past year and which of those were fruitful and which didn’t work out so well. Think about your relationships, finances, and jobs. Continue with your successes and release those that failed. Release the negative emotions that go along with the failures.

There are many offerings you can give for Mabon. Take some of the crops you harvest and return them to the earth. Put out some food for the animals that live outside, such as seed for the birds. Donate food to the hungry or to your local charity or food drive.

Mabon is a sabbat for celebrating and giving thanks, cleaning and organizing, and taking in your successes. Harvest your crops, prepare for the coming winter, and breathe in the crispness in the air of the cooler weather. Spend time with your loved ones and enjoy the changing of the season.

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