Sep 22, 2019
Image: Mabon/Equinox - clipartpanda.com
The Fall Equinox occurs today according to rhythmsofplay.com. Because of time differences across the globe, this means that the Autumnal Equinox will actually happen the day before, this year on September 22, for those of us in North America. In other words, the Fall Equinox (Mabon) occurs today, Sunday, September 22, 2019, at 3:50 AM EDT, or 6:50 AM PDT in the Northern Hemishpere.
The Fall Equinox, or Mabon, marks the astronomical beginning of the autumn season.
When the Autumnal Equinox occurs in the Northen Hemisphere, the vernal equinox happens at the same exact moment in the Southern Hemisphere and marks the astronomical beginning of spring.
Are you confused yet? Don’t worry… we answer all your questions about the Autumnal Equinox and the meaning of Mabon below.
Once all of your questions are answered, scroll down to find 11 fun ways to celebrate Autumnal Equinox!
Fall Autumnal Equinox FAQ
Before we share a few simple rituals and other fun ways to celebrate autumn equinox, we thought we’d clear up any confusion you may have by answering a few frequently asked questions about the Autumnal Equinox.
When Does The Equinox Happen?
There are two equinoxes and solstices every year. One equinox occurs in September, while the other occurs in March. The season that you welcome, fall or spring, depends on the side of the equator that you live on.
What Is The Equinox?
The equinox is the point in time that the sun crosses the celestial equator. It is an astronomical event that happens at the exact same moment across the world but is converted to local time.
On the exact moment of the equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator before continuing its journey south or north, depending on the time of year.
This definition also explains its name. The word equinox is derived from Latin, meaning “equal night.” On each equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are said to more or less the same on the day that the equinox happens.
This also explains why the equinox is celebrated as a day of balance–day and night are approximately the same lengths on the equinox.
What Happens On The September Equinox?
The September equinox is also known as the Fall Equinox, or, the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. It is when the sun crosses the celestial equator and continues its southbound declination from the equator at 23.5 South.
In other words, the sun sits directly over the equator at the moment that the equinox occurs, and balance or equilibrium is reached before the sun continues its journey south.
Once the sun rises and crosses over earth’s equator in the month of September, it will continue south, and the Northern Hemisphere will begin to experience the cooling temperatures and golden foliage characteristic of the fall.
This means that after the Autumnal Equinox, each day will get shorter, and, each night will get longer until the sun reaches it’s southernmost declination on the night of the winter solstice–the longest night of the year.
On the March equinox, these are reversed and the Southern Hemisphere will experience the opposite season.
Thus, the September equinox marks the astronomical beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, while the March equinox marks the beginning of the fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
Before the Fall Equinox, you will begin to notice signs of autumn appearing all around. Check out our Signs of Autumn Scavenger Hunt to learn more.
When Is The Autumnal Equinox?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox is also known as the Fall Equinox and typically falls between September 21 – 23. On rare occasions, the Fall Equinox can happen just outside of those date ranges.
In 2019, the Autumnal Equinox will happen on September 23, 2019, at 3:50 AM EDT (6:50 AM PDT), 0750 UTC in the Northern Hemisphere. (source)
What Is Mabon?
Mabon is another name for the Autumnal Equinox. Rituals about the balance between light and dark, and giving thanks for a blessed harvest are often performed on Mabon.
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. (source)
Mabon is the second of 3 harvest festivals celebrated by pagans, where traditional harvest foods were served, known as the mid-harvest festival. It is for this reason, that some pagans consider Mabon “Pagan Thanksgiving.”
Early societies understood the importance of feasting with your neighbors to create a village. Without each other, they could not survive, so they feasted together to celebrate, to create community, and to give thanks.
Spiritual Meaning of Mabon
On the equinox day and night, dark and light, inner and outer, masculine and feminine, are all in balance before the night takes over…
Bringing darkness along with the death of winter.
All things must die before they can be reborn, and all spiritual ascent requires descent first. We are a reflection of the universe that surrounds us, what takes place outside of us, also takes place within us.
This means that those who long for the light must first face the darkness within themselves.
It is on the Autumnal Equinox, that this stage of inner preparation for enlightenment can begin. In order to make way for the return of the sun on the winter solstice, and it’s rebirth on the spring vernal equinox.
This is why it is so important to use this time of universal balance to hold gratitude in your heart for the life lessons that have helped you grow, and let go of everything else.
For the soul, the Autumnal Equinox is also a time of harvest.
Celebrate autumn equinox, or Mabon, by harvesting your inner fruits of awareness and finding gratitude for the seeds that you have both reaped and sown… The good, the bad, and the ugly.
May your inner and outer harvest be bountiful!
Autumnal Equinox Celebration Ideas
Below you will find a list of 11 ideas and rituals you can try to celebrate autumn equinox, and, prepare for the waning of the light.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere and are celebrating the vernal equinox, hop over to have a look at “Fun Ways to Celebrate the Spring Solstice.”
Related: Fun Autumn Activities
11 Ways To Celebrate Autumn Equinox
1. Make A Gratitude List
The Autumnal Equinox is a time of harvest. Make a list of everything you are thankful for as a way of reaping your inner harvest. Better yet, start a gratitude journal. Gratitude brings abundance.
If you don’t know where to begin, start with the food you have to eat and the roof over your head. It will flow naturally from there. May your inner harvest be bountiful!
You may also like this collection of Gratitude Activities and Crafts for Kids, and Gratitude Books That Inspire Thankfulness.
2. Restore Balance In The Home
Because night and day are approximately the same lengths, the equinox is a great day to create equilibrium in the home. Restore balance by doing a fall deep cleaning. Get rid of anything that you no longer need to make space for inner abundance.
Next, use the power of rhythm and routines to help you get organized and provide a framework for your day. A daily rhythm can also increase productivity and assist you with time management.
We also like to establish seasonal routines that create a connection to the world we live in, and, add meaning to our family life. This is one of the many reasons that we like to celebrate the Fall Equinox. Children thrive on regular household rhythms and routines.
3. Make Fall Crafts And Create Fall Art
Make a fall craft, or, try a fall art project fun on the Fall Equinox, or any time this autumn, to celebrate the beautiful warm colors that this magical season brings.
Acorn Peg Dolls
Fall Peg Doll Fairies
Fall Nature Craft Ideas
DIY Acorn Marble Necklaces
Oak Apple Nature Craft
Watercolor Fall Leaf Art
Real Fall Leaf Nature Art Projects
Best Fall Art Projects
All Season Hand Print Tree – This seasonal handprint and fingerprint art tree is a great activity to do with your child to introduce the idea of seasonal changes. Feel free to do all four seasons, or, make a fall handprint art tree with golden autumn fingerprint leaves.
4. Begin Something New To Prepare For An Abundant (Inner & Outer) Harvest
The Fall Equinox is a great time of year to create goals or start a project.
Make a list of everything you’ve been wanting to do.
Pick your top three choices.
Make a plan to start one and go from there. Start with “How to Set SMART Goals” and then have a look at “How to Use the Power of Habit”.
5. Visit A Local Farm Or Go To A Harvest Festival
Head to a local farm, or your local farmers market, for traditional Mabon harvest food items to host your own feast or “Pagan Thanksgiving” to celebrate the arrival of fall.
Invite children to go on a field trip to a local farm for Mabon, or, anytime this autumn. Try the fun field trip ideas below–each one includes links to fall art and craft ideas and fun fall activities that the kids will LOVE!
Apple Orchard Field Trip
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Corn Maze Family Fun
6. Eat A Fall Harvest Meal
Create a meal from local seasonal foods to have your own Mabon Thanksgiving! Traditional autumn harvest foods include; corn, squash, zucchini, apples, pumpkins, etc.
Spend some time this season educating your children with farm to table experiences that they will remember for the rest of their lives. It’s the traditional things that we do with our families that create the most meaning in our lives.
How about inviting children to join you on a trip to the pumpkin patch, making homemade pumpkin puree, and pumpkin cranberry bread, or fresh pumpkin pie with it?
Don’t worry, it’s a lot easier to make pumpkin puree than you think!
Children also love to pick apples and make apple pie oatmeal and gluten-free apple crisp–yum! (This links to our gluten-free peach raspberry crisp–sub apples and add cinnamon to the recipe!
Feel free to invite your friends and family over to enjoy a fall harvest feast for Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox.
If you decide to have guests at your fall harvest feast, invite them to join you in a gratitude craft or activity, or, make a plan to set SMART goals together.
7. Add Fall Decor To Your Home
Autumn decorations are fun to make on or after the Fall Equinox to add to your DIY home decor. Decorate your home with fall arts, and autumn crafts to welcome the season of fall.
One of our favorite ways to decorate for the fall is with a Fall Nature Table. (photo below)
autumn nature table rustic fall decor diy
8. Attend A Bonfire
A bonfire is a great way to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. Dance, sing, beat drums, play music, and celebrate the fall. Please be safe and follow city or county laws and regulations.
9. Meditate And/Or Practice Yoga
Practice yoga or spend time meditating on the equinox, and dive deep into the spiritual meaning of Mabon.
Meaning of mabon - fall Autumnal Equinox
On the Equinox day and night
are in equilibrium. Dark and light,
masculine and feminine,
inner and outer,
are all in balance before the night
takes over...bringing darkness and the
death of winter with it.
All things must die before they can be
reborn, it is for this reason that all
spiritual ascent requires descent first.
We are a reflection of the Universe that
surrounds us, what takes place outside
of us, also takes place within us. All
those who long for the light must first
face the darkness within themselves.
It is on the Autumnal Equinox, that this
state of inner perception for
enlightenment can begin. In order to
make way for the return of the Sun on
the Winter Solstice, and its rebirth on
The Spring/Vernal Equinox.
10. Read Books About Autumn And The Fall.
Reading books about autumn aloud with your children is a great way to celebrate the fall season. Check out a few of our favorites below:
Autumn
We Gather Together
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Leaf Man
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt
Apples and Pumpkins
Fall Mixed Up
Hello Fall
Why do Leaves Change Color?
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
It’s Fall
The Little Yellow Leaf
Because of an Acorn
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
In the Middle of Fall
11. Get Outside & Connect
Get outside and connect with what matters on the equinox. See how the trees are changing, what the squirrels are doing, the change in temperature and length of daylight.
Fall Equinox Celebration Ideas
There are many ways to celebrate the fall Autumnal Equinox. Create something meaningful for you and your family and you can’t go wrong.
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