Autumnal (Fall) Equinox
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Just as in the Spring Equinox, the hours of daylight and darkness are equal at the Fall Equinox as well, but the sun will begin to decline its power, and the darkness of the nights will gradually become longer lasting. Thanks are given for this waning sunlight and the resulting final harvest. Respect is paid to the approaching dark of winter. The completed crops are celebrated, along with all the efforts put forth. A farewell to the end of summer is declared. This holiday falls on September 21 or a day before or after. It is also known as Mabon (pronounced May-bun, or Mah-boon), who was a Welsh God. It is particularly a celebration of harvesting vineyards and wine. It is also associated with apple harvests. Apples were viewed as symbols of life renewed. It was also considered by the Druids as a time to honor aging deities and the spirit world. They would give offerings of drinks to the trees, such as cider or wine, as a way to honor the God of the Forest.
Some symbols of this festival are apples, wine, vines, wheat and corn stalks, gourds, and pine cones. In England, the last sheaf of corn harvested symbolized the spirit of the field and was fashioned into a doll, called the corn dolly. Burial cairns were also a symbol. The Celts would visit the burial cairns of departed loved ones and place an apple upon them, symbolizing their wish to be reunited with them. Another tradition is the use of ginger. Feasts often had gingerbread, ginger beer and other foods seasoned with this spice. These festivals were lavish, with people outfitted in their fanciest attire. Perhaps they felt they could now relax and have some fun. Today we could also relax, and, rather than celebrating the final harvest, we could reflect on the fruits of our personal harvests, such as accomplishments on our jobs, raising our families or just dealing with everyday stresses and strains. One could hang dried ears of corn on the front door, or decorate with acorns, oak leaves, pine and roses, or burn sage, marigold, myrrh or thistles.