Mabon (Fallfeast/Haustblot) 2025

Before I knew the names of the gods, I knew the feel of autumn on my skin. Mabon was the first Sabbat I ever celebrated after converting to paganism—a solitary ritual stitched together with candlelight, fallen leaves, and a quiet vow to listen more closely. I didn’t have a full altar, or the “right” tools, or any sense of cosmic timing. What I had was a hunger for connection, for reflection, for magic rooted in season and soul.

Even now, years later, Mabon holds a special place in my heart. I might not mark every Sabbat with ceremony, but I always make time for the one that started it all—the second harvest that taught me to notice the shift, to give thanks, and to find balance in the in-between.

And while this is how I celebrate, your ritual may look much different. There’s no one way to honor the turning of the wheel. Take what I share with a grain of salt, and follow what resonates. Every path is different, every witch their own kind of wild. Do what works for you—no altar, no robe, no permission required.

Now, every year, as daylight slips earlier into dusk and the Equinox whispers balance into the bones of the world, I return to Mabon—not as a beginner, but as someone who remembers that first spell of gratitude. It marks the second harvest, a time to gather what’s grown, honor what’s shifted, and make offerings for what still remains.

Mabon marks the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are equal, making it a time of balance, equality and harmony. In ancient times Mabon was a celebration of the second harvest (Lughnasadh was the first) when farmers gathered hearty foods like gourds, pumpkins, grapes and apples.

Modern Mabon celebrations are a time to give thanks for the abundance of Mother Earth - both literally and spiritually. It’s also a good time to reflect on the Wheel of the Year, recognizing your successes and letting go of the things that did not serve you during the past twelve months.

This festivity falls on the Autumn equinox, so the date may vary a bit if you celebrate it on the actual astronomical event. Roughly around September 21st–23rd in the Northern Hemisphere. It honors the second harvest of the season and it’s the time to gather food for the upcoming winter months. It’s also a time to reflect on what we have achieved and to be thankful for what the Earth has given us.

Mabon Symbols

• Symbols: Cornucopia, pinecones, seeds, baskets, acorns, equality and balance of light and dark

• Colors: Orange, red, yellow, brown, copper, dark yellow, dark green

• Foods: Corn, beans, squash, apples, pumpkins, cider, root vegetables, pomegranate, wine, gords, breads

• Herbs: Yarrow, rosemary, sage, mugwort, rosehips, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, Solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle

• Stones: Amber, citrine, cat’s eye, aventurine, sapphire, jasper, lapis lazuli, yellow agate

• Flowers: Sunflowers, thistle, marigolds

• Animals: Owl, stag, blackbird, salmon

• Spell workings: Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also, those of harmony and balance.

History

Like many of our ancient celebrations, this one revolves around the agricultural calendar. Haustblót was a time of harvesting crops and preparing for winter. In many Nordic lands, there were only two seasons - winter and spring.

This was a critical time of year for our ancestors. The harvest was important so that people could survive during the cold short days of winter. Fear of starvation was a real thing.

They held three seasonal festivals. Start of Autumn, Mid-Winter/Yule, and Start of Spring.

Practically speaking it marked the beginning of the gathering of food for the long winter months ahead, bringing people and their livestock into their winter quarters. To be alone and missing at this dangerous time was to expose yourself and your spirit to the perils of imminent winter. In present times, the importance of this part of the festival has diminished for most people. From the point of view of an agricultural people, for whom a bad season meant facing a long winter of famine when many would not survive until spring, it was paramount.

Bonfires, feasting, and dancing played a large part in the festivities. Even into Christian times, villagers cast the bones of the slaughtered cattle upon the flames, cattle having a prominent place in the pre-Christian Germanic world. (Though folk etymology derives the English word "bonfire" from these "bone fires,") With the bonfire ablaze, the villagers extinguished all other fires. Each family then lit their hearth from the common flame, bonding the families of the village together.

In ancient times, our European ancestors celebrated their Harvest Feast and found many reasons to be thankful and to celebrate. Our people have done this for as long as we can trace our history. Although what our people have felt thankful for has certainly changed over the many years. Remember as you sit down this year with your family, you're participating in an ancient tradition. And it's a great time to figure out what you're thankful for or for your kindred to hold a blot of thanks.

How to celebrate

• Decorate your porch or entryway with traditional autumn greenery.

Decorating is always a good way to get yourself in the spirit of the season, whether you go big or small in your decorating being surrounded by the oranges, reds and yellows of harvest always puts me in a good mood.

• Write down all your blessings from the past year in a journal.

Journaling is always an easy, budget friendly way to interact with the sabbats. For Mabon try writing reflections of the past year. Any memory, lesson, or moment of beauty you feel you are grateful for, write it down! If you best memory is going into the store, and your favorite snack was on sale, write it down! These days we could all stand to be grateful and give thanks for the little things in life. Nothing is too big or small for this journal, so take up one page or five it's up to you!

• Go apple picking

  This one may be a bit harder if you live in a more urban area or somewhere where apple orchards aren't really common. So, a good substitute could be enjoying some apple flavored items! Apple cider, apple fritters, apple sauce, or just an apple.

  
  

• Have a picnic

  Theres a lot of ways you could do this, if the weather is nice definitely try and have one outside. Breathe in the fresh air and get in a last round of nicer weather before winter comes. But if the weather is poor, you can do one indoors as well. Try to avoid electronic distractions and listen to the rain/ whatever weather is going on outside. For food, if possible, make things for the season. Things like root vegetables, pumpkin, squash, corn, bread, and wine.

• Clean your house and get rid of stagnant or negative energy.

  Cleaning always makes you feel better especially during a time of harvest and reflection and just before winter will soon take over. Light a fall scented candle or some incense to cleanse the space while you're cleaning.

  
  

• Host a potluck Mabon dinner with your favorite people.

Preparing a feast is always a great option, who doesn't love some cozy fall foods? There will be a blog post filled with recipes here soon. Breads, squash, root vegetables. apples, etc.

• Preserve food for the upcoming winter (canning, dehydrating, and freezing)

Again, a more niche activity but very handy if you have a garden you are harvesting. Or there may be a really good sale on produce in the store and you don't want to pass it up. Freezing would be the easiest of these 3 options, all you need are freezer bags. Canning would be next you do need to know what things to water bath and what things need to be pressure canned (some VERY experienced canners water bath everything but be aware of the risks). Dehydrating is something I've never done but friends of mine have, they make their own garlic and onion powders as well. Some air fryers have dehydrating settings, and I believe you can dehydrate in the oven as well.

• Offer a blot to the gods of the harvest: Freyr, Gerðr, Freyja, Thor, Sif, and others.

Demeter- A Greek goddess of harvest, grief, and motherly love.

Ceres- Demeter's Roman counterpart, sharing many of the same attributes, as well as for fertility, nourishment, and grain.

Persephone- Daughter of Demeter and queen of the underworld, she marks the turning of the seasons.

Hekate- Goddess of the crossroads and shadow, she isn't a harvest deity, but she is typically celebrated as she is a torch through the darker half of the year.

Freyr- A Norse God of harvest, sunshine, rain, and prosperity.

Freyja- A Norse God associated with love, fertility, war, and death.

Modron- A Welsh goddess associated with motherhood and nurturing.

Mabon ap Modron- Son of Modron a god of youth and rebirth.

These are just a few of many gods and goddesses that are associated with Mabon. It best to do some research into the specific pantheons you are interested in working with to find the best ones for you.

• Start making your mead for Yule.

This is for a very specific demographic, those of us (me included) that enjoys a nice drink on the holidays may want to give mead making a try. I myself may try and make a batch this year, I mean it's in my Appalachian roots. But if you aren't an alcoholic beverage person, maybe try making your own vanilla or some cider!

• Give back to the earth and those around you.

Giving back to all those who have helped you grow this year. Write them thank you letters or texts, just make them feel appreciated. Donate some food, clothing, or your time back to your community. Since the holidays are approaching there should be a lot of places accepting donations. Look to local community centers, homeless shelters, schools, and even local grocery stores. Between all of those your bound to find someplace that is taking up donations or looking for volunteers. Animal shelters are always looking for donations and volunteers as well.

Rituals

SETTING UP AN ALTAR

Setting up an altar is something almost every witch does or has done. Altars are a good way to have a designated space for offerings and can be a large or as small as you feel necessary. Some have multiple altars set for each deity, and sabbat, while some only have one that they use for multiple things. This section will cover both the large and the small altars.

Large altars offer a ton of space for you to add and decorate as much as your heart desires. Artworks, crystals, candles, incense, food, drink and more.

Small altars are perfect for those with limited space or who are still in the broom closet. They still hold just as much meaning as large altars and neither of the two are better than the other. I've seen altars inside of breath mint tins and shoe boxes.

Colors of the season- Use yellows, oranges, reds, and browns. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the harvest season or go a step further and put brightly colored fallen leaves upon your work surface. Use candles in deep, rich colors -- reds, golds, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

Symbols of the harvest- Mabon is the time of the second harvest and the dying of the fields. Use corn, sheaves of wheat, squash and root vegetables on your altar. Add some tools of agriculture if you have them - scythes, sickles, and baskets

EAT A SEASONAL FEAST

Check out your local farmers’ market or even your own garden to get some traditional fall foods. Squashes, apples, nuts, and root vegetables are all popular fall foods.

Foraging for wild edibles can bring you closer to Mother Earth and her cycles. This is a good time to look for wild fruits such as crab apples, walnuts, and pawpaw's.

Make sure to set a place for the ancestors and spirits.

TAKE CARE OF ANIMALS

One of the things our ancestors would have done is take the time to care for their animals and livestock. Bringing them down from summer grazing areas to be closer to shelter and safe from winter storms. Now most people do not have livestock but that doesn't mean we can't still care for animals.

Wild animals are in a rush at this time in preparation for hibernation, so be kind to these animals. Birds are flying south for the winter so why not make some natural bird feeders. They are the easiest thing to make simply collect some pinecones, cover in birdseed or sunflower seeds and hang/set them outside. You can actually keep these out year-round because there are some species of birds that don't migrate and will need some extra help in the winter months.

Strays and pets as well will need tending to. Make sure pets are up to date on vaccinations, nail trims, and tick/parasite free. For the strays be extra kind, they will be facing the cold nights outdoors, consider making some warming boxes. If you do, please DO NOT use plush blankets or hay. Blankets and hay can trap moisture and actually make the animals colder! Straw is your best option (yes straw and hay are different). Straw is left over from grain crops (like wheat) after you remove the grain and chaff. Straw has no seeds, and it is used for animal bedding, mulch, or compost. Hay has seeds, is used as animal feed, and is made from dried grasses or legumes (like alfalfa). Hay soaks up moisture and can make animals colder if used for bedding.

BONFIRE

Do you have an outdoor fire pit? This is a great time of year to enjoy roasting marshmallows or dancing around the fire. Enjoy sitting outside on a cool fall evening and looking up at the stars.

So as the sun balances between light and dark, may you find your own harvest—not just in the foods you gather, but in the stories, you’ve lived, the griefs you’ve honored, and the love you’ve seeded. Share your table with spirit and kin. Let the wind carry your name like a prayer. And remember: every falling leaf is a spell cast in gratitude.

May your harvest be rich—not only in food, but in friendship, memory, and magic. May your spirit walk gently with those who came before, and may your table be wide enough for every kind of love. May the crisp air cleanse your grief, the warm hearth kindle your joy, and the moon remind you: you are part of the turning.

Blessed Mabon, beloveds. The veil thins. You are not alone.

Signed, your favorite emotionally unstable folklore cryptid <3