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The days are starting to get shorter as the nights get longer. It’s an exciting time because we get to celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween. But right before those celebrations is the autumn equinox, a holiday with many traditions and rituals. You can even make your own.

What is the Autumn Equinox?

The autumn equinox, or Mabon, is an astronomical event occurring annually between September 21 and 24 in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the exact moment when day and night are of equal length. Celebrated as a modern pagan and Wiccan holiday, Mabon honors balance, gratitude and preparation for the colder months ahead. 

Mabon is one of the eight Wiccan sabbats, and many civilizations celebrated it as a harvest festival similar to Thanksgiving. The name seems to come from the Welsh God, who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess, but there is also evidence that the celebration was adopted around the 1970s. It’s not entirely clear which of these rumors is true.

Typical Symbols of Mabon

Knowing the symbols of the autumn equinox, or Mabon, can help you celebrate it with greater intention. When creating your rituals, add some of these to what you do:

• Crystals: Carnelian, amber, smoky quartz, yellow topaz and amethyst
• Colors: Brown, gold, yellow, maroon, orange and violet
• Flowers: Chrysanthemum, aster and marigold
• Animals: Wolf, dog, stag, raven, owl, squirrel, bear, fox, swallow, hawk and swan
• Foods: Pomegranates, apples, squash, pumpkins, grapes, acorns and wheat
• Plants and herbs: Maple, oak, fern, blackberry, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon and cloves
• Gods: Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, Morrigan, Modron, Ishtar, Mabon and Thoth

Autumn Equinox Rituals to Try

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the season. Here are a few rituals for you to try, and how you can turn these often ancient rituals into unique versions for you and your family.

Go Apple Picking

One of Mabon’s symbols is the apple, as it represents wisdom and magic. If you live near an apple patch, visit your local farm. Pay for your container at the entrance, pick fruit from outer branches by lifting and twisting the apple upward, and handle the fruit gently to avoid bruising.

Be respectful to the trees. Never shake or climb them, as this breaks the branches and damages future fruit. If you aren’t sure how to pick apples, just ask the farmer! One piece of advice is to wear good boots, dress in layers and bring cash for easy payment.

Make it your own: Pick a day each year to pick apples. Use these apples to make apple pie. Bring the same friends or family. Thank the trees for giving you fresh apples.

Host a Pickling and Preserving Party

Not all of us are so lucky as to live near an apple orchard. If you aren’t, you can host a pickling party instead. It was common for people to pickle their food, so it could last through the winter. Common pickling foods include squash, apples, figs, cucumbers and wild mushrooms.

For the party, ask guests to bring clean jars and fall produce. Prepare warm autumn brines using apple cider vinegar, cinnamon sticks and star anise, set out a chopping station and enjoy seasonal snacks while preserving. These snacks could be made out of apples.

Make it your own: Dress the jars with unique jar caps or notes. Put stickers on the side of the jar. Listen to specific music. Have drinks, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic, while pickling.

Take a Moon Bath During the Equinox

Cleansing rituals are very witchy, especially under the moon. Moon bathing is a wellness practice that involves sitting, standing or lying under the open sky to soak in the soft light of the moon. It doesn’t involve actual bathing in a bath, but it can if you want to stay indoors.

To have an autumn equinox bath, draw a warm bath with Epsom salts, seasonal herbs like rosemary and warming essential oils. Use the time to set intentions for balance. You can also reflect on personal gratitude and release the stress of the changing season.

Make it your own: Include stones like rose quartz. Brew a pot of your favorite tea or have a glass of wine. Read your favorite book. Do some other self-care, like a hair mask.

Switch Your Summer Clothes for Fall Fashion

The wheel of the year is moving, and your clothes should reflect this. Switch your summer and fall clothes by cleaning everything first, sorting items into keep, store and donate piles and storing summer wear in breathable bins. You can use lavender sachets to keep bugs away.

For men or women, fall clothes are about colors and fabrics. Wool and cashmere are the fabrics of these seasons, while oranges, deep reds and forest greens are great colors. Swap your sandals for boots or hardy shoes and get your coat and scarves ready.

Make it your own: Storing clothes can be boring, so put on music or give yourself a reward. Put on your outfits and see what looks good together. Create a lookbook of your favorites.

Have a Harvest Picnic With Friends

Some witches celebrate this practice alongside the harvest-season goddesses, Demeter and Persephone. Going on a picnic and wearing adorable outfits is a part of it, so have fun. To start, pick a sheltered spot in a park or your own backyard just before sunset to catch the golden hour.

Bring plenty of plaid flannel blankets and floor cushions since evening temperatures drop fast. Use natural elements like fallen leaves, mini pumpkins and gourds as a simple table runner or blanket. Then, build a spread of vegetables, bread, crackers, cheeses and fruit.

Make it your own: Take this time to share gratitude by passing out small cards. Light two candles to honor the light and the oncoming dark. Do some stargazing. 

Have Fun During the Fall Equinox

During this fall season, have some fun and go beyond pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie. Creating your own rituals and indulging in the spiritual meaning of autumn can bring you joy during this transitional period. The best way to make your own is to change up traditions.