The History of Wales

The Celtic festival of Mabon - The autumnal equinox.

The Celtic festival of Mabon - The autumnal equinox.

The autumnal equinox is the time when the day and night are of equal length. This solar event was of great importance to the Celts who used the sky as both clock and calendar and as such, was seen as a turning point when it was time to give thanks for the fruits of the earth and get prepared for the colder months to follow.

The 'Harvest Moon' and "Hunter's Moon, are also associated with the autumnal equinox. The former is the full moon closest to the equinox and the later the one following it.

The Celts do not seem to have had a specific name for this time of year, but it has become widely known recently as Mabon, named after the character from the mabinogian, Mabon ap Modron.

Mabon Ap Modron was stolen from his mother when he was only 3 days old and kept hidden for many years. His rescue becomes the task for King Arthur’s adopted brother, Cei and Gwrhyr, a translator of animal languages. They seek out a Blackbird, a Stag, an Owl and an Eagle, each older and wiser than the previous until they encounter the enormous salmon of Llyn Llyw, who carries them to Mabon's prison in Gloucester. King Arthur then mounts an attack, allowing Cei to enter the rear of the prison and rescue Mabon.