Mabon-A Witch's Thanksgiving

Mabon – A Fall Pagan Festival of Balance and Gratitude

The late summer sun dips lower in the sky, casting golden light over fields ready for harvest. The air carries the first crisp hints of autumn as leaves begin to blush red and gold. In this liminal moment of the year, day and night fall into perfect balance. This is the autumn equinox – known to many modern Pagans and Wiccans as Mabon – a fall Pagan festival celebrating the second harvest, balance between light and dark, and the abundant blessings of the season. Sometimes called the “Witch’s Thanksgiving,” Mabon invites us to give thanks for what we have received over the year, and to honor the earth’s generosity. It’s a mystical yet practical time, a pause to savor the fruits of our labor before the world shifts toward the darker days ahead.

Mabon is unique among seasonal celebrations in that its name itself blends ancient myth with modern creativity. While humans have marked the autumn equinox for millennia with harvest festivals, the term “Mabon” is relatively new – coined in the 1970s by Wiccan author Aidan Kelly. Kelly sought a resonant name for the equinox sabbat and drew from Welsh folklore, naming it after Mabon ap Modron, a divine youth of Welsh mythology. In legend, Mabon was stolen away from his mother when only three nights old and held captive in darkness until a hero rescued him. Kelly felt this tale of a lost son returning from the dark mirrored the seasonal theme of light and dark in balance and the descent into winter. Thus, the modern festival of the autumn equinox gained the evocative name Mabon, linking ancient story to contemporary practice.

Even though the name is new and not rooted in any one ancient holiday, Mabon has quickly become a beloved part of the Pagan Wheel of the Year. It stands as one of the eight Sabbats in modern Wiccan and Pagan traditions. Each year around September 21st–23rd (in the Northern Hemisphere), practitioners gather to honor the Autumnal Equinox, often simply calling it Mabon. This celebration is the Second Harvest festival – following Lughnasadh (the first harvest in early August) and preceding Samhain (the final harvest at the end of October). In agricultural terms, this is the time when late fruits, vegetables, and grains are gathered in. Spiritually, it’s a time to celebrate abundance, give thanks, and prepare for the coming winter. The equinox also carries the powerful symbolism of equilibrium: with daylight and darkness equal, many Pagans take this opportunity to seek balance in their lives and reflect on the dualities of light and shadow within and without.

Ancient Traditions and the Origins of Mabon

To understand Mabon’s spirit, it helps to look at both the ancient harvest lore and the modern mythic inspirations behind it. Harvest-time celebrations have ancient roots across many cultures. Long before the name Mabon was coined, societies marked the autumn equinox with feasts and gratitude for a successful crop. In England, a festival called Harvest Home or Harvest Thanksgiving was traditionally held at the full moon nearest the equinox, celebrating the last sheaf of grain cut from the fields. In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival honors the moon and the harvest with mooncakes and lanterns. Indigenous traditions around the world hold ceremonies to thank the earth as summer ends. The equinox, being a time of equal light and dark, also figured into myth: for example, in Greek lore the equinox is associated with the story of Persephone’s descent to the underworld – a tale explaining the start of autumn’s decay when the earth goddess Demeter mourns her daughter’s departure. Themes of a descent into darkness and eventual return to light are common in equatorial myths of this season.

Mabon ap Modron, the figure who lends his name to this festival, comes from Welsh legend and appears in the medieval Mabinogion. In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, the hero seeks Mabon – “the Son of the Mother” – who was abducted in infancy and hidden in a prison of darkness. With the aid of wisdom from ancient animals, King Arthur’s men eventually locate and free Mabon, who then aids in the hero’s quest. This story of loss into darkness and eventual liberation carries a fitting resonance for the equinox: it is a symbolic reminder that even as the light part of the year is captured by encroaching night, it will be freed once again with the dawn of spring. Some modern interpretations see Mabon as a symbol of the sun’s power waning (the child lost to dark) and later reborn. Interestingly, the name Mabon itself means “Great Son” or “Divine Son,” and scholars note he may be linked to an ancient Celtic god of youth and hunting (Maponos). While the Welsh Mabon’s tale has no direct historical link to harvest season, its themes of mother and child, light and dark, confinement and release provide rich imaginative texture to the equinox celebration.

It’s important to note that the choice of the name Mabon was a modern decision and not an ancient pagan name for this equinox. Some practitioners prefer to simply call this sabbat the Autumn Equinox or Second Harvest, feeling that those terms more directly reflect the seasonal event. However, over the past few decades “Mabon” has entered wide use in Pagan communities, so much so that many now embrace it without necessarily thinking of the original myth behind the name. In truth, whatever name one uses, the heart of this time has always been thanksgiving, balance, and transition. As one Pagan writer beautifully summarized: the Autumn Equinox is as ancient as it gets – worldwide, people have always celebrated the harvest and the changing light at this time of year. Mabon, by any name, stands in that timeless stream of seasonal festivals that honor the turning of the wheel.

Modern Pagan Observance of the Autumn Equinox

In today’s Pagan and Wiccan practice, Mabon is often a comfortable, communal celebration, sometimes likened to a spiritual Thanksgiving dinner. Many covens and communities hold harvest feasts or potlucks, where each person brings a dish made from seasonal produce – baked apples, squash soups, corn pudding, breads and pies made of grains, and dark berries or grape wine are common fare. These gatherings are joyous yet reverent, focusing on gratitude for the earth’s bounty and the mutual support of community. It’s typical to begin such a feast with a moment of thanks, each attendee sharing something they are grateful for from the past year. This echoes the idea of Mabon as Witches’ Thanksgiving, centering the holiday around gratitude, abundance, and giving thanks for the harvest.

For those who practice ritual, Mabon rites can take many forms. Because it is a fall Pagan festival of balance and transition, rituals often highlight the duality of light and dark. Some Wiccans perform ceremonies with two candles – one gold or yellow for the waning sun, one black for the growing night – and light them at the moment of equinox to symbolize the equal dance of day and night. Others might honor deities associated with the harvest season: for example, offering incense or prayers to harvest gods and goddesses (such as Demeter and Persephone, or modron figures like Modron the mother of Mabon). Offerings to the earth are a meaningful practice at this time; practitioners may leave an offering of bread, wine, milk, or garden produce outside in a natural place as a way to give back to nature and spirit for what has been received. Decorating a household or altar is another beloved activity: altars are often adorned with autumn’s treasures – colorful leaves, acorns and chestnuts, pumpkins and gourds, dried corn, a cornucopia (horn of plenty) filled with fruits, and maybe a small bale of wheat or bundle of grain stalks. The colors of Mabon mirrors the changing foliage: rich oranges, reds, yellows, browns, and golds set the tone. Many people will also include symbols of balance, such as an image of scales or a sun and moon motif, to emphasize the equinox theme of harmony.

Solitary practitioners and families celebrate Mabon in equally meaningful ways. Some spend the day outdoors, taking a quiet nature walk through a local park or forest to observe the changes – the soft crackle of fallen leaves underfoot, the last summer wildflowers going to seed, birds gathering to migrate. This simple act of connecting with nature can itself be a moving ritual of attunement to the season. Others engage in acts of service or preparation: preserving food, canning fruits, drying herbs, or cleaning up the garden are practical ways to honor the harvest and get ready for winter (much like our ancestors would store food and fuel at this time). Modern witches often use such tasks as meditative rituals – for instance, mindfully sweeping the home and clearing out clutter can symbolize sweeping away stagnant energies, creating space for the introspective months ahead.

Importantly, Mabon’s energy can also be gentle and introspective. Not every observance needs to be a formal ceremony. In the spirit of Spellbound Grove’s ethos of blending magic with the mundane, even small everyday actions can become heartfelt seasonal rituals. Lighting a scented candle in the evening with intention, sipping on spiced cider or pumpkin tea while reflecting on your year, or incorporating the scents of autumn into your daily routine are all subtle ways to celebrate. For example, brewing a pot of cinnamon apple tea and whispering a gratitude blessing over it turns a simple cup into a magical act. Or consider that even washing up can be enchanted – the aroma of a handcrafted seasonal soap can evoke autumn’s spirit and make your morning shower a moment of mindful connection to the season. In these quiet ways, anyone can honor Mabon’s essence: balance, gratitude, and letting go. As night begins to overtake day after the equinox, we’re reminded to find equilibrium in our own lives – balancing activity with rest, social time with solitude, and outer work with inner reflection.

Simple Mabon Rituals and Traditions

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to Pagan celebrations, you might be looking for an autumn equinox ritual or tradition that is accessible and meaningful. The beauty of Mabon is that it can be celebrated with grand ceremony or with the simplest of gestures. Here are a few simple rituals and reflections for Mabon that blend the mystical and practical. Feel free to adapt these ideas to fit your own spiritual path and circumstances:

• Harvest Gratitude Feast: Prepare a special meal featuring seasonal foods like apples, squash, corn, grapes, and bread. This can be a big gathering of friends or a quiet dinner for one. Before eating, speak aloud a gratitude for the blessings you’ve harvested in your life this year – accomplishments, relationships, lessons learned. If with others, take turns sharing thanks around the table. You might also set a bit of the food aside on a dish as an offering to the earth or to any deities you honor, leaving it outside afterwards as a token of thanks (ensure any offerings left outdoors are safe for wildlife). This simple feast connects you with the age-old tradition of honoring the harvest’s abundance.

• Nature Walk & Autumn Altar: Take a mindful walk in nature, whether in a forest, a park, or your own backyard. As you walk, collect small tokens of the season – a bright fallen leaf, an acorn or pinecone, a smooth stone, maybe late-blooming flowers or herbs. Bring a basket to gather natural decorations. When you return home, use these treasures to build an autumn altar or seasonal display. You could arrange them on a table with a candle in an autumnal color (gold, orange, or burgundy) and perhaps a representation of the gods or ancestors if you wish. This altar can serve as a focal point for the rest of the fall, reminding you of nature’s beauty and the cycle of the seasons. Creating an altar with items like gourds, nuts, and colored leaves is a traditional way to honor Mabon – each item carrying the energy of the outdoors inside to your sacred space.

• Equinox Balance Candle Ritual: To symbolize the theme of balance, try a simple candle ritual. You will need one light candle (white, yellow, or gold) and one dark candle (black, navy, or brown). Find a quiet moment at dusk on the equinox. Place the candles side by side and light them, saying: “On this day of balance, light and dark are equal. As the scales tip, I honor both the light and the shadow.” Spend a few minutes in meditation, eyes on the twin flames. Reflect on the balance in your own life – where do you feel harmony, and what feels out of balance? You might speak promises or intentions to yourself for restoring equilibrium (for example, “I will give my body as much rest as work,” or “I will balance social activity with personal time”). Allow the candles to burn as a symbol of the light within you balancing the darkness. This gentle ritual attunes you to the cosmic balance of Mabon and affirms your intention to walk into the darker months with a steady spirit.

• Gratitude and Release Journal: Mabon’s energy of both gratitude and impending change makes it a perfect time for personal reflection. Take some time on the equinox to sit with a journal. Write two lists: on one page, list things you are thankful for this year – all the “fruits” you have gathered in life. On another page, list the things you are ready to let go of as the year wanes – habits, worries, or sorrows that no longer serve you. You can turn this into a simple ritual by then burning or burying the “release” list (safely and in a fireproof container, if burning) as a symbolic act of clearing space, while keeping the gratitude list in your journal. Some witches like to also draw a tarot or oracle card at Mabon to gain insight into the lessons of the past season or guidance for the next; you might tuck a favorite card that you pull into your journal as well. This practice blends thankfulness with the equinox theme of letting go. As the trees drop their leaves, we too learn to release and trust the cycle of renewal.

• Ritual Bath with Seasonal Scents: A ritual bath is a wonderful way to literally immerse yourself in the atmosphere of autumn and wash away the energy of the outgoing season. Draw a warm bath and add some touches of fall – perhaps a few drops of an essential oil like cedarwood, orange, or clove, or even slices of apple and sprigs of rosemary in the water. Light candles around your bath in fall colors. As you soak, imagine the water cleansing you not just of physical dust but of any emotional burdens or heat of summer that you wish to shed. Using a seasonal soap or bath bomb can enhance this experience; for example, a Spellbound Grove soap infused with autumn fragrances (think notes of cinnamon, pumpkin, or warm vanilla) transforms the bath into a sensory celebration of Mabon. Breathe deeply and let the scents conjure images of harvest fields and crackling hearth fires. You might quietly recite an affirmation such as, “I release the old and welcome the blessings of the dark half of the year.” When done, feel the air on your skin as a fresh start, and step out of the bath imagining you are crossing a threshold into the new season. This simple ritual bath not only relaxes and rejuvenates you, but also uses the power of scent and intention to align body and spirit with the cycle of the earth.

Each of these practices can be done with minimal tools and no formal training – making them accessible to beginners – yet they carry enough depth and symbolism to enrich even seasoned practitioners’ observance. The key is to approach them with mindfulness and heart. Mabon doesn’t demand elaborate ceremonies (though you can certainly create one if you wish); even small actions done with intention can connect you to the ancient rhythm of the season. Whether you’re baking bread, hiking a wooded trail, or simply lighting a candle at your kitchen table, if you do it in a spirit of reverence and reflection, you are celebrating Mabon.

The Senses of the Season: Savoring Autumn’s Magic

One delightful aspect of Mabon is the sensory richness that comes with the season – the brilliant sight of foliage, the chill nip in the morning air, the taste of spiced treats, and the comforting scents of harvest time. Embracing these senses is a practical way to bring a bit of magic into everyday life. In many ways, this aligns with Spellbound Grove’s philosophy of finding the “magic in the mundane.” By infusing our daily routines with seasonal sensory experiences, we stay connected to nature’s cycle even in the hustle of ordinary life.

Consider the aromas of autumn: the moment you smell cinnamon, clove, or baked apples, it instantly evokes a feeling of warmth and harvest. You can make these aromas part of your Mabon season by burning cinnamon incense or simmering a pot of apple cider with spices on the stove. Lighting an autumn-scented candle in the evening – perhaps one with notes of pumpkin, sage, or woodsmoke – can set a magical mood in your home. Likewise, using herbal and handcrafted products that capture fall fragrances is a gentle form of daily ritual. Spellbound Grove’s own line of seasonal soaps, for example, is crafted to echo the essence of the fall equinox: bars imbued with natural ingredients like pumpkin puree, crushed sage, orange peel, or cedar might not only cleanse your skin but also remind your spirit of the season’s enchantment each time you lather. The simple act of washing your hands or taking a shower becomes an opportunity to pause and inhale autumn, turning a routine moment into one of grounding and presence.

By engaging the senses, you invite the spirit of Mabon to live with you day-to-day. Adorn your space with the colors of turning leaves – maybe a centerpiece of candles and mini pumpkins on the dining table – so every glance is a nod to the season. Play music that resonates with fall (perhaps gentle folk tunes or nature sounds of wind through leaves). Enjoy the seasonal flavors mindfully: a spoonful of spiced butternut squash soup or a bite of nutty bread can be an offering of joy to yourself in honor of the harvest. These small immersive experiences complement the more formal rituals you perform. They keep you attuned to the mystical in the practical, which is exactly the balance that Mabon represents.

Conclusion: Mindfulness at the Threshold of the Dark

Half

As Mabon’s sunset gives way to an earlier dusk, we stand at a threshold in the year. The celebratory harvest atmosphere gradually shifts into the quiet inward pull of autumn. In the old agrarian way of reckoning, this equinox marks the beginning of the dark half of the year – a time when nights grow longer, the earth’s energy retreats, and we too are called to slow down and turn inward. The conclusion of your Mabon celebration is really a commencement of a new journey: the journey into the restful, reflective season of late fall and winter.

Take a moment to appreciate the mindfulness Mabon encourages. By pausing to celebrate the second harvest, you have acknowledged the bright blessings around you. Now, as an individual or family, you prepare to embrace the darkness not with fear, but with a sense of peace and purpose. Just as our ancestors stored their crops, you can “store” the warmth of gratitude and the lessons of the year in your heart, to nourish you through the colder months. Maybe create a little ritual of preparation: pack away your summer clothes, bring out cozy blankets, set aside some favorite books or journals for winter evenings. These actions, done consciously, become a pledge of harmony with the season rather than resistance to it.

Finally, carry forward the spirit of balance and gratitude into the coming weeks. The equinox reminds us that light and dark are both sacred; one is not good and the other evil – rather, they dance in eternal cycle. If summer was a time of outward growth, consider the dark half of the year as a time of inner growth. What will you cultivate in the fertile darkness? Perhaps deeper knowledge, creativity, healing, or simply rest. Mabon has given you the gift of awareness: you’ve reflected on what you’ve harvested and what you’re releasing. With that clarity, you can step into the autumn and winter with intention. As the nights lengthen, light a candle or an oil lamp at your table and recall the Mabon promise: even as we move into shadow, the seeds of next spring’s light are safely held within. Every ending in nature carries the germ of a new beginning.

In the words of the old wisdom, “In winter, enjoy.” Now is the time to let the quieter joys unfold. Honor the ancestors by living in rhythm with the earth – resting when it rests, finding beauty in the stillness as well as in the bustle. Mabon’s legacy is this call to seasonal mindfulness. It invites you to celebrate and then gently let go, to be thankful and then journey on. May the gratitude you cultivated at Mabon feed your spirit through the dark half of the year, and may the balance you sought guide you until the light returns. Blessed Mabon and a peaceful autumn to you from all of us at Spellbound Grove. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!