Mabon!

Mabon is one of my favorite holidays. I'm not pagan, but most of my friends are, so we all gather together and I cook them up a good feast. It's kind of like a witch's Thanksgiving, and any holiday centered around food and reflection with friends is enjoyable to me! I look forward to it starting in August and I seriously start planning weeks before the event. In addition to the food I go all out, I decorate the place with the appropriate items and colors and I also whip up a batch of herbal incense. When the day comes, I cook all day and I'm a little stressed and a lot hungry, but enjoying this meal with my friends makes everything worthwhile!

A little history:

Mabon - Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Symbols of Mabon: wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Foods of Mabon: Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Colors of Mabon: Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life.

So, basically, it's a Harvest Festival. I make a lot of Thanksgiving-esque foods that are coming in to season. While I haven't quite decided on all the foods I'm going to be making, I do know that I will be making these delicious items:

Pecan-"Sausage" stuffing (a real hit at last year's!).
Rosted Vegetable medley
Cornbread
Apple Tart
Chocolate-Nut Tart
Mulled Cider

There will also be copius amounts of wine and a main dish that I haven't quite decided on. Ahh! I'm so excited! The stuffing and vegetable medley recipes I've already posted, but the others will be new additions as soon as they've been taste-tested!

Have a great day!