Mabon, aka Fall Equinox and several other traditional names, is the time of year that I like the most of all the Wiccan/Pagan holy days. Now in modern times it is probably observed less than most, but I feel this is a mistake.
In the mundane world, it is a time of new beginnings. Children start or continue school, young adults enter the work force, mature adults watch their children grow and wonder how in the world are they going to afford new clothes for however many children they have, and the old would give anything to do it all again. What does this mean in the scheme of things? And how do the old ways apply here…and do they even apply at all?
First let’s look at what Mabon stands for as a High Holy Day in Wicca, and see what we can do to apply it to modern standards afterwards. In the old days, Mabon was a “second” harvest; The last harvest of grain, and the gleaning of the fields, the planting of winter wheat and grains, and the making of wine and other alcohol, as well as the putting up of the food and herbs for the long winter ahead. This was to insure survival.
There were no grocery stores, or places you could buy food in many cases, nor were there places of charity, nowhere to obtain medicine. You grew and made everything. You worked hard and smart to insure that you and your family and kinth and kin would eat and not go hungry in the winter. Everyone in your family and tribe worked your fields and herds and you worked in theirs too. It was a huge effort of cooperation.
As the days got shorter and the nights longer, you realized it came, the cold times and the hungry and sick times. You knew many of your people would die, perhaps even you. As the harvest was gathered you and the other leaders of your tribe watched what was done by all of the people. You mentally “tic’d” off what was done extremely well and what was done poorly or in a disorganized fashion. You watched who had worked hard and done well, and also which of those did not work hard or put their all into the efforts. This would all be mentioned and brought to counsel during the feast of Mabon. Mabon is traditionally held on or about September 21st; aka as the Fall Equinox; the time when the days began to fail, and the nights to get colder.
Your house and indeed all of the houses would be made “proof” against the cold. Women would spin wool and weave clothes and blankets for the coming winter after chores were done, and children put to bed. Wood would be gathered and stored for heat in your fireplace, and the harvest would be stored in a barn or underground cave for the winter. In many cases the food and supplies would be hidden, so that robbers and marauders would be thwarted should they come to murder and steal. Life in the old times was perilous and short.
Your life span as a man might be as long as forty to fifty years. You were considered old and a sage by the time you were thirty five. As a child bearing woman, your life span might be as long as thirty five, if you survived child birth consistently. If you did, you were called a crone, and it was a term of respect. It was not unusual to have a baby a year. Many if not most young women died during child birth, and many children did not survive into youth, let alone old age. Life had urgency to it. It was important to live fully and deeply.
But, finally the feast of Mabon has come. The women cook all day, and bring good food and drink to the tables. The children play and chase, the young people laugh and sing. The young married expect their first children to be born in late February and early March, since many of them married at Beltane. There is love; and there is fear.
The old look at it all and wonder where the time went? That night the songs and stories of old are told with much laughing wonderment, and excitement. The children are amused and little by little start whining and crying and needing their beds. The young people protest that they are grown up enough to listen to counsel, and some of them are admitted to the outer circles; all begin to gather closer to the fire.
The leaders are ready to talk about the year. The oldest of sages clears his throat and cries of “Silence, be still!” ring out. All press closer to hear, and if there is one who is learned and knows language, he takes down his words for the people on a bit of hide. Otherwise it is memorized for posterity and passed along verbally.
At last the sage stands and begins his talk for the people. As it has been done from the ages and is still done today, he speaks of the year gone by. He points out what he found favorable and he admonishes and criticizes those things gone badly. He invites each head of household (man or woman) to come to fire, and explain or accept praise; and what their plans for the following year are to be, and how they will conduct the next year. If there are disputes; whether personal, tribal or otherwise; he judges those and his word is accepted. Finally, when each household has had their chance at the “floor”, he rises up again and summons the Holy ones…the Priest and Priestess to do ritual and ask the Gods for their blessings on the next year’s plans and for the people. The whole tribe will participate in the rituals held for the rest of the night and often into the next day or longer depending on how large the tribe is. The counsel of the Elders is held during this as well, and all is decided how the next year will be conducted and orchestrated. It has been done this way, always.
How does this pertain to modern times? In the modern Wiccan household and within the tribes, the feast is held as a holy day. The coven or solitary considers his year gone by with his family and friends. And plans and schemes for the New Year are planned and mapped out. They feast and make merry after the Blessing of ritual is carried out. It has been done this way, always.
Mabon the Fall Equinox by LynAnne Moon Gathering and harvesting your labors. Check it out in Bellesprit Magazine goo.gl/uqoSp
— BellespritMagazine (@BellespritMagaz) September 9, 2012
Rev. LynAnne Moon has practiced pagan/Wicca for about 35 years. She is a co-founder of the El Paso Pagan Alliance, and Host of “Divine Dimensions” on the HeyZ Radio Network (www.heyzradionetwork.com), as well as a partner and artist with The Frugal Pagan (www.thefrugalpagan.com). She is also a Bellesprit Diamond Psychic, and may be contacted at www.numbersstarsandcards.com for counsel and readings.
