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Wheel of the Year · Sabbat

Mabon

Mabon — Autumn Equinox. Celebrated around Sep 21 – 24 (Autumn Equinox).

Date
Sep 21 – 24 (Autumn Equinox)
Theme
Harvest & balance
Meaning
Autumn Equinox
In one line

Mabon marks the Autumn Equinox — day and night in balance again as the harvest peaks. It celebrates gratitude, balance, and preparing for the dark half of the year.

What is Mabon?

Mabon marks the Autumn Equinox — day and night in balance again as the harvest peaks. It celebrates gratitude, balance, and preparing for the dark half of the year.

History & origins

Mabon, named in modern times after a Welsh mythological figure, marks the autumn equinox and the second harvest. It is the Pagan Thanksgiving — a balance point of light and dark before the descent into winter.

How to celebrate Mabon

Give thanks for the harvest, balance what’s unequal in your life, and prepare for winter’s rest.

Mabon correspondences

Colours: russet, gold, brown, deep red. Foods: apples, grapes, squash, wine, bread. Herbs: marigold, sage, myrrh. Symbols: the cornucopia, fallen leaves, balance scales.

Mabon customs

Traditional ways Mabon has been celebrated through the ages.

🍂

Harvest feast

A thanksgiving table of the season's abundance.

🙏

Gratitude altar

Fruits, grains, and leaves arranged in thanks.

Balancing rituals

Honouring the equal day and night, light and dark.

Mabon correspondences at a glance

The colours, symbols, herbs, foods, and crystals traditionally tied to Mabon.

CategoryAssociations
ColorsOrange, brown, gold, deep red
SymbolsCornucopia, acorns, vines, falling leaves
HerbsSage, marigold, rosehips, thistle
FoodApples, grapes, squash, harvest bread
CrystalsAmber, citrine, tiger's eye

The eight sabbats of the year

The Wheel of the Year turns through eight festivals — the solstices and equinoxes, and the four cross-quarter days between them.

Oct 31 – Nov 1
Samhain
Ancestors & endings
Dec 20 – 23 (Winter Solstice)
Yule
Rebirth of the Sun
Feb 1 – 2
Imbolc
First stirrings of spring
Mar 19 – 22 (Spring Equinox)
Ostara
Balance & new growth
Apr 30 – May 1
Beltane
Fire of life & passion
Jun 19 – 23 (Summer Solstice)
Litha
Peak of the Sun
Aug 1 – 2
Lughnasadh
First harvest
Sep 21 – 24 (Autumn Equinox)
Mabon
Harvest & balance

Working with Mabon

Embrace

  • Thanksgiving
  • Balance
  • Preparation
  • Graceful letting go

Release

  • Imbalance
  • Excess
  • Clinging
Celebrate at home · 15 minutes

A simple Mabon ritual

  1. Give thanks for the harvest.
  2. Balance what’s unequal in your life.
  3. Prepare for winter’s rest.
FAQ

Mabon — questions

When is Mabon?+
Mabon is celebrated around Sep 21 – 24 (Autumn Equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere.
What does Mabon celebrate?+
Mabon celebrates harvest & balance. Mabon marks the Autumn Equinox — day and night in balance again as the harvest peaks. It celebrates gratitude, balance, and preparing for the dark half of the year.
What is the Wheel of the Year?+
The Wheel of the Year is the cycle of eight pagan festivals (sabbats) marking the solstices, equinoxes, and the points between them.
How do I celebrate Mabon at home?+
Give thanks for the harvest, balance what’s unequal in your life, and prepare for winter’s rest. You can keep it as simple as lighting a candle and setting an intention aligned with the season.
In the Southern Hemisphere, when is Mabon?+
Because the seasons are reversed, Southern Hemisphere practitioners celebrate Mabon roughly six months from the Northern date, aligning it with their own season.
What is the theme of Mabon?+
The heart of Mabon is harvest & balance. To work with it, embrace thanksgiving and balance, and release imbalance.

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