September 22, 2019 is officially the first day of Autumn, or “Fall” as we Americans call it.

Long ago, when the air cooled and the leaves turned gorgeous shades of gold, rust, and burgundy, people did more than don sweaters and switch their clothing to darker colors.

Anciently, the Autumn Equinox or Harvest Home was called Mabon, pronounced ‘MAY-bon’, after a Welsh god called Mabon ap Modron which literally means ‘son of mother’.

One Mabon Celtic ritual was taking the last sheaf of corn harvested and dressing it in fine clothes, or weaving it into a wicker-like man or woman. Apparently, they believed the sun was trapped in the corn and needed to be set free. So they burned it and spread the ashes on their fields.

Mabon is also known as the Feast of Avalon, derived from the word Avalon which means ‘the land of the apples’.  It was also traditional at Mabon to honor the dead by placing apples on burial cairns as a symbolism of rebirth. It was also a way for the living to anticipate being reunited with their loved ones who had passed on.

Many people often associate autumn with being melancholy and facing the end of the liveliness of summer and the beginning of the bleakness of winter. Grey skies cause many people to retreat, both physically and mentally. Autumn is the time of year when the celebrated English poet, John Keats, wrote his most acclaimed poem, “To Autumn” which has a distinctly melancholy beauty.

The ancient Celtics, however, used this time to reflect on the past year as well as celebrate nature’s bounty by having a feast and a celebration. I imagine those were the roots for the Thanksgiving feast that Americans celebrate.

 

 

 

 

 

Author of Historical Romance and Fantasy, award-winning author Donna Hatch is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Her writing awards include the Golden Rose and the prestigious Golden Quill. Her passion for writing began at age 8 she wrote her first short story, and she wrote her first full-length novel during her sophomore year in high school, a fantasy which was later published. In between caring for six children, (7 counting her husband), her day job, her work as a freelance editor and copywriter, and her many volunteer positions, she still makes time to write. After all, writing IS an obsession. All of her heroes are patterned after her husband of over 20 years, who continues to prove that there really is a happily ever after.

3 Thoughts on “Autumn or Fall”

  • I like Autumn, I just don’t like the winter that follows it, sometimes. If our rain has been any indication of what winter will be like, we’re in for a doozy! But I do remember as a kid, raking the leaves and jumping into the piles. I missed that when I lived in Arizona. Some of the kids born there looked at me strangely when I told them of this tradition. I also love the pumpkins Autumn brings, the colors and the apple cider! (paridzule.keep@gmail.com)

  • I must admit I prefer Spring but Fall is pretty. Back when my children were young my nephew (16. yrs. older than my children) would come over and we would carve pumpkins. It became a tradition and it has grown. Now my grown children and their significant others are there, my sister, my mom (who is 90), my nephew’s wife and this year we are thrilled to welcome their new baby (having a baby was a real miracle for them after a lot of miscarriages and her being 42). Can’t wait until next year when their son will really understand.

  • I absolutely LOVE the fall. I grew up on the east cost where the fall foliage is epic. Our house was surrounded by trees and it took our family and entire weekend of doing NOTHING but raking leaves to get them all up. Ugh! But, the leaf piles were amazing! There is something quintessentially fall about jumping in a pile of leaves!

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