22 September 2013

Autumn Celebrations!



A pic of my backyard view, after a storm, a few years ago.

*This article is also part of Kallan's wonderful Sunday Stew. Please hop on over there (when you are finished here) and read all of my friend's contributions. Trust me, you will love the flavor that each chef has to offer :)


Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for your patience with me during my break. My best friends CT scan came back good, so even though she will still be having surgery, she does not have cancer. I will be celebrating with extreme thankfulness this Mabon. I am also looking forward to the birth of a 2nd grandson in less than a month!

So, can you feel Fall making its way to you? The mornings, this past week, have had a chill to them and they have been a bit foggy. I can't wait for the days to hear the leaves crunching under my feet. I made a batch of butternut squash soup and it brought fall happiness to my mouth. Just around the corner will be corn mazes, pumpkin patches and rides on my bicycle on the pathways with newly fallen leaves.

Since this is the Mabon edition of the Stew, I thought it would be fun to look at different celebrations of the Autumnal Equinox: 

Each year, crowds gather at the San Juan de Ortega Monestary in Northern Spain. The sun hits a column and lights up a perfect square that contains a relief of the Virgin Mary. This happens with the Vernal and Autumn Equinoxes. The Light Miracle

The ancient Mayans were extremely adept in astrology, accurately predicted the equinoxes. Today's Mayan still celebrate the turn of the wheel to Autumn. 
Mayan Celebrations.

Several Native American tribes celebrate what is known as The Green Corn Festival. While it doesn't fall exactly on Mabon, it is celebrated around this time. This festival date is up to the ripening of the corn. It is a time of thankfulness and forgiveness, and is celebrated at full moon. It lasts for several days.   



A yam harvest is celebrated in August or September at the end of the rainy season and when the crops are ripe. This is a celebration in Ghana and Nigeria. You can read more about it here: Yam Festival


Another holiday that is celebrated around the equinox is Michaelmas. It is also known as the Feast of Saint Michael. It notes the days getting shorter and common symbols are St. George slaying the dragon.  A very cute blog is here: Passengers On A Little Spaceship


Mehregan is the Persian Autumn Festival. and is held on October 2nd. It is celebrated in honor of Mithra.   Persian Autumn Festival site   



The Chinese Moon Festival which celebrates the birth of the moon, is also known as a mid-autumn festival. It is also one of their most important holidays. The Legend of the Moon Festival Also, here is a link to a wonderful little blog with Moon Festival Crafts: My Mommy Makes It







I hope you enjoyed my little "trip" around our beautiful planet highlighting the autumn celebrations. Please, if you would like, let me know how you celebrate. 






4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love that picture and so glad that your friend is not facing the horror of Cancer. A very happy Equinox to you and yours!

Loren said...

Thank you so much! I hope your Equinox is very blessed and abundant! :)

Anonymous said...

It was thank you :) a very magical and special time. I too have a friend who has dodged a bullet cancer wise - similar relief all round here too.

Loren said...

That is the most wonderful news for both of our friends! <3