Preparing for Autumn Equinox

The Sabbat of the Autumn Equinox is often referred to as Mabon by Wiccans, but why?  There is no ancient festival of this name, rather the festival of Mabon is a 20th century invention. It is named after a prominent figure in Arthurian mythology. Mabon is the son of Modron and a member of Arthur's war band. Before the Arthurian legends were written, Mabon and Modron were probably worshipped as deities in pre-Christian Wales. In Arthurian mythology, Mabon is an exalted prisoner who was stolen from his mother's arms when he was just three nights old. Arthur asks the oldest wisest animal, the salmon of Llyn Llyw, where he might find Mabon. The salmon carries Arthur and his men downstream to the prison in Gloucester, where Mabon can be heard singing a lamentation for his fate. Arthur and his men set about rescuing Mabon from the prison so that he can assist them in the hunt for Twrch Trwyth. Mabon is heralded as a "servant to Uther Pendragon". On the continent he is known as Mabonagrain, Mabuz, Nabon le Noir and Maboun. His name is derived from the Celtic deity Maponos, meaning "Divine Son", from the Proto-Celtic root *makwo- "son". Similarly, the name Modron is derived from the Celtic deity Matrona, meaning "Divine Mother", from Proto-Celtic *māter "mother".

Inscriptions of the name Maponos have been found in Gaul, but mostly in the north of Britain. Some inscriptions are very simple such as Deo Mapono "to the god Maponos" from Chesterholm. It is clear from the Latin inscriptions that the Romans associated Maponos with Apollo. At Corbridge there are two dedications Apollini Mapono "to Apollo Maponos" and one [Deo] / [M]apo[no] / Apo[llini] "To the god Maponos Apollo". At Ribchester there is an inscription to Deo san(cto) / [A]pollini Mapono.  The Roman worship of Apollo was adopted from the Greeks. In Hellenistic times, Apollo was identified with Helios, Titan god of the Sun, as Apollo Helios. His sister Artemis was equated with Selene, Titan goddess of the Moon. In the time of Augustus, who considered himself under the special protection of Apollo and was even said to be his son, his worship developed and he became one of the chief gods of Rome. As god of colonization, Apollo gave oracular guidance on colonies. In literary contexts, Apollo represents harmony, order, and reason. His complimentary brother was Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy and disorder. Every winter Apollo went to Hyperborea, the land of the north, leaving the Delphic oracle in the care of Dionysus. Hyperborea was sometimes identified with Britain, and Stonehenge was known as Apollo's Temple.

Several place names in Britain are named after Maponos, such as Locus Maponi "the place of Maponos", Maporiton "the ford of Maponos", and Clachmaben 'stone of Maben or Maponos'. His Irish counterpart is Macc Óc "young lad", an epithet of Angus (or Oengus), the eternally youthful spirit to be found in Newgrange, a pre-Celtic Neolithic barrow tomb. Irish mythology portrays him as the son of the Dagda, a king of the Irish gods, and of Boann, goddess of the River Boyne. In Irish mythology, the Macc Óc frequently features as a trickster and a lover. He features in many love stories, enraptured by several young maidens.

In Cornwall he was remembered as Saint Mabon, supposedly a brother of Saint Teilo and the founder of Llanvabon. During the middle ages, the Autumn Equinox was celebrated with Michaelmas on the 29th September. The Archangel Michael was seen as a protector against darkness. Traditionally a goose was eaten on this feast day, followed by a special cake called a St Michael's bannock. On the Isle of Skye, a procession was held. According to an old legend, blackberries should not be picked after Michaelmas. According to folklore, Satan cursed the blackberry bush on this day because he fell into one when he was booted out of heaven. In Yorkshire, it is said that the devil spat on them. In Cornwall, the saying goes that the devil urinated on them. After the Reformation, Michaelmas was replaced with Harvest Festival, celebrated on the Sunday after the Autumn Equinox. From 1793 to 1805, the Autumn Equinox was celebrated as New Year's Day in France.

In about the year 1970, Aidan Kelly, an American academic, poet and influential figure in Wicca, adopted the name Mabon for the Autumn Equinox. Mabon means "son" and his mother is a river goddess. In Arthurian legend, Mabon is a warrior who has been locked up in prison since his birth. The Romans equated him with Apollo, whom they identified as a sun god. Each year Apollo was said to travel north for winter. We have two stories about a god who is missing and must return again. At the Autumn Equinox we recognise that summer is departing, but it will return again. The following is an example of an Autumn Equinox ritual:

The altar is decorated with symbols of autumn, such as pine cones, oak sprigs, acorns, ears of grain, etc. The circle is cast and the coven stand in a circle around the altar. The High Priest stands to the West of the altar and the High Priestess stands to the East. The High Priestess holds up the wand and hails the sun: "Farewell, O Sun, ever-returning Light, The Hidden God, Who ever yet remains, Who now departs into the Land of Youth, Through the Gates of Death, To dwell enthroned, the Judge of Gods and men, The Horned leader of the hosts of Air, Yet even as He stands unseen about the Circle, So dwelleth He within the secret seed, The seed of newly-ripened grain, the seed of flesh, Hidden in Earth, the marvellous seed of the stars. In Him is Life, and Life is the Light of man, That which never was born, and never dies. Therefore the Wise weep not, but rejoice." The High Priestess hands the wand to the High Priest. He leads a dance three times round the altar, representing the journey into autumn. At the next Sabbat he will be hailed as Horned Lord of the Underworld.

Note: "Mabon" rhymes with "cab" and "on" click here for a sound file. "Michaelmas" is pronounced "MICKel-mus" similar to the way we say Christmas.
Further reading: http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost10.html  and  http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Michaelmas/