Mabon
This article is about the Neopagan festival Mabon. For the Welsh mythological character, see
Mabon ap Modron. For the Welsh politician, see
William Abraham. Mabon is the name used by some
Wiccans and
Neopagans for one of their eight annual primary holidays. It is celebrated on the
Autumnal Equinox, which in the northern hemisphere occurs on
September 23rd (occasionally the
22nd). Many celebrate on the
21st since most Wiccan and Neopagan reference works misquote the date as the 21st although the Gregorian Calendar, used in the US and Britain since 1753, does not allow the date of the equinox to fall that early. Due to the reversal of the seasons, in the southern hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox occurs around
March 21.
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Mabon
[Celtic] Mabon son of Modron ("young man" son of "mother goddess") was a hunter-god. He was stolen from his mother at three days, and lived in Annwn, whence he was rescued by Culhwch (and Arthur) as an adult. He was ever-young as a result of this sojourn. He assisted Culhwch in the quest for Olwen. Culhwch's stepmother wished him to marry her own daughter. When he demurred, she cursed him to marry no one but Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden. He has the power to make a land flourish or waste away. He enlisted the aid of Arthur to search for Olwen. When they found her, she said her father would not permit her to marry for that would cause his own death. Nonetheless, Culhwych overcame many trials and eventually married her.