Today marks the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a festival day known by many as Mabon in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. I wrote about the problems with Mabon last year. But the misunderstandings about this festival persist. Therefore, it’s worth repeating.
A significant misunderstanding is that the ancient Celtic people celebrated a festival named Mabon. They didn’t. The festival of Mabon was invented by Aiden Kelly, an influential and controversial person in Wicca during the 1960s and 70s. He drew the name from the Welsh Pagan deity named Mabon ap Modron.
The issue goes beyond the name. Being that Mabon is based on a Welsh Pagan deity, it’s considered Celtic. However, we know that the Celts didn’t celebrate the Autumn Equinox. In fact, they didn’t celebrate either Solstices or Equinoxes. Notice that none of the four Celtic festivals (Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh) are tied to the celestial indicators of seasonal changes. (source: Secrets of the Druids by Teresa Cross. A great book that I highly recommend.)
The only European Pagan festival set on the Autumn Equinox that I can find is a Slavic Pagan harvest festival named Dožínky. Not a lot is known about the ancient Pagan festival. One known aspect is that, for some, it centered around worship of the god Svetovid, a god of abundance and war.
With all this said, I celebrate the Autumn Equinox because I find it meaningful for several reasons. For me, the Autumn Equinox is meaningful because of what it foretells. It foretells the end of the oppressive heat of Summer and the cool of Autumn. Autumn Equinox also marks the start of a season of festivals. I also look forward to upcoming Pagan festivals such as Samhain, Yule, and Saturnalia and public holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year.
The Autumn Equinox is more than what it foretells. It’s also a celebration of the natural cycles of our living planet as the seasons change from Summer to Autumn. This makes the Autumn Equinox an important festival to honor the goddess Gaia.
It’s okay if you want to celebrate a Celtic-themed Autumnal Equinox festival named Mabon. But let’s be honest and admit that it’s not historical.
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