~*~ Blessed Mabon ~ Merry Fall! ~*~
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The Autumnal Equinox is when the Sun passes South across the line of the equator. Day and night are of very nearly equal length and the season of Fall begins!

Gone are the long days of Summer. From now until Spring, nights will be longer than days, steadily lengthening until Winter Solstice. (For those in Australia, New Zealand, and other Southern Hemisphere lands, the situation is reversed. Spring is beginning and it is daylight which steadily lengthens.)

Traditionally, Fall equinox celebrations span the third week of September beginning on the 20th with September 25th being the old fixed equinox date. Now we can know the exact time of equinox, which is on the 21st through 24th. In 2016 it happened this morning, the 22nd, at 9:21AM Central Time!

As Druids celebrate "Mea'n Fo'mhair" honoring The Green Man, God of the Forest; Wiccans recall Mabon, 'Child of Light' who reenters his mother's womb to gather strength for rebirth as the Champion of Light. And, according to many modern scholars, this time is very close to the actual birthdate of Jesus.

Also celebrated as Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, Second Harvest, Feast of Avalon, and Michaelmas, equinox marks the middle of the harvest cycle. 2016's Harvest Moon shone brightly less than a week ago on the 16th!

 

Activities

The arrival of Fall can be greeted in many ways and marked by many activities. Wine and other drinks prepared from the harvest are served. Decorations of red, orange, brown, and gold are prominent.

A 'corn man', John Barleycorn, may be constructed (ideally from the last shock harvested) and burned as a 'sacrifice' amidst much rejoicing and drinking of liquor prepared from the harvest.

They've hired men with scythes so sharp,
To cut him off at the knee,
They've rolled him and tied him by the waist
Serving him most barbarously...

It is a good time to make or buy a new broom and sweep the home. Sweep widdershins (i.e. 'backwards' from your usual way) and move through your home and each room from West to East, backwards to the direction of the sun's movement.

You can weave a wreath of dried grape vine or other vine, decorate it with acorns, corn husks, pine cones, ... and place it on your door. Hang a braid of garlic for winter protection. Burn sprigs of rosemary for preservation and longevity.

From your garden gather seeds and any remaining herbs and set them out to dry.

A traditional activity reflecting the bittersweet end of Summer is to wander woods and parks and forests gathering pine cones, acorns and other seeds and seed pods, and herbs. In fact, it is a good time to 'harvest' anything of interest: Special stones and feathers, abandoned wasp nests, dried beetles, ... which may be discovered.

Even as we prepare for lengthening darkness and the cold sure to come, this Second Harvest is for reaping what we have sown and giving thanks for the bounty.
 

Symbols
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, horns of plenty, corn man, John Barleycorn.

Herbs
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, Solomon's seal, tobacco, and thistle.

Foods
Corn bread, baked squash, nuts, beans, pomegranates, potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, and cider.

Colors
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

From

Celtic Connection ~ Mabon
Crystalinks
Citadel of Dragons
The White Goddess
The Wiccan Garden
Spring Wolf's Pagan Path
Equinox_TimeAndDate
Old Farmer's Almanac