Mabon

Among some wiccan traditions, and according to the many of the customs of our pagan ancestors, this was actually the time of sacrificing the 'Corn King' or John Barleycorn. One must remember that in Wicca, 'sacrifice' is symbolic only. The Goddess and God do not require sacrifice, and what we call 'sacrifice' now is only meant to represent the inner growth we are striving to realize in the material world.

Wiccans today celebrate Mabon on the equinox, however, most European peasants were not able to calculate the actual equinox date, so the celebrated the even on a fixed date of September 25th. The medieval Church christianized this date with the name 'Michaelmas', the feast of the Archangel Michael. The equinox usually falls around September 20-23.

This is the day of the year when the God of light is 'defeated' by his alter-ego, the God of darkness (not darkness as in evil, but darkness as in 'winter'). After this, the nights will be longer than days. The God's sacrificial death at this holiday identifies him with John Barleycorn, spirit of the fields. Not only is the Sun's power dying on this day, but the power of the sun that was transmuted into the crops is sacrificed as well. Many traditions call for the burning of the wicker man spoken of on the Lughnassad page, on this holiday. One must remember however, that this is a cyclic sacrifice... what is cut down today, will return anew.