Autumn Equinox

I have been learning a lot about a lot of different cultures, rituals, celebrations and practices. And since the Autumn Equinox or Mabon is coming up on September 23rd , I thought that I would share some information about it. It sometimes falls a little earlier in September depending on the actual Astrological event. The Autumn Equinox like the Spring Equinox divides day and night equally. This is the time of the year when we notice that the days become shorter and the nights longer, the leaves start to change and there is dew in the morning grass. Also called Harvest Home, this holiday is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and recognition of the need to share them. Some other names for Autumn Equinox include the Fall Equinox, the Second Harvest Festival, Festival of Dionysus, Wine Harvest, Cornucopia, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), and Alban Elfed (Caledonii, or Druidic – which celebrates the Lord of the Mysteries).
Some symbols that represent Mabon are wines, gourds, acorns, wheat, Indian corn and horns of plenty. Sounds a lot like a traditional Thanksgiving table setting, hun?
Mabon marks the end of the second of three Harvest Festivals and is considered a time of the Mysteries. Most of the crops have been gathered and it is considered a time of balance, a time of dark overtaking light. The principal key is to give thanks and is a wonderful time to stop, relax and be happy, and a time to stop and survey the harvest that each of us has brought in over the season.
We should all remember to give thanks to the earth for is has given us many great and wonderful things.