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That Mabon Thing Again!

18/9/2013

10 Comments

 
Sometimes, it's wise to question whether swimming against the tide is worth it. I'm beginning to think that "the Mabon thing" may be one of those instances. The Autumnal Equinox is nearly here, and my social media world has been filled with references to the day as "Mabon" for several weeks. Many people new to Paganism, and some who are not so new, simply accept that name without thinking. If I were to enter a new culture, I probably wouldn't question the names of the holidays, either. I'd assume that these names had been in use for centuries. However, the fact is that "the Mabon thing" has no venerable history - the practice was begun by Wiccan author Aiden A. Kelly in the 1970s. Anyway, why should we care? Wiccans and Neo-Pagans are forging new territory, right? Surely we can call our holidays by new names.

autumn equinox, ric kemp, mabon, avebury
Autumn Equinox by Ric Kemp

Mabon is certainly not a word that Kelly simply coined. It is the name of a Welsh deity/mythological character Mabon ap Modron, which literally means "Son, son of Mother". However, there is nothing in the story of Mabon which has links to autumn or the balance between dark and light, etc. which really justifies relating him to this event. One occasionally sees tortuous attempts by modern writers to draw correspondences, but they always seem to me to be reaching very hard and not really succeeding. However, there is no doubt that the name has caught on in a big way, and I'm not interested in trying to stamp out its use. I would just like to raise awareness, that Mabon is the name of a deity, and hope that if people are going to throw that name around, then perhaps they could at least take a little time to learn who Mabon was and hear his story.
Modron is a shadowy figure, and all we are told is that she gave birth to her son Mabon, but when he was three days old he was taken from "between her and the wall", in other words abducted by some supernatural means. He had been a beautiful and precocious child - obviously one connected with the otherworld. The on ending of the two names also provides a clue that these are not mere mortals. Eventually, Mabon was found and rescued by Arthur (yes, that Arthur) as part of the fulfillment of a quest. You can read this tale, which is part of the longer story of Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion. If you find it rather heavy going, you might prefer this gentle re-telling by Alison Lilly: The Tale of Mabon. 
mabon ap modron, jen delyth
Mabon by Jen Delyth

The main story of Mabon doesn't give us a great deal to go on in understanding who or what he really is as a deity or personality. A couple of other Welsh tales have similar stories of the abduction of divine babes, most notably the story of Rhiannon and Pryderi. An interesting discussion of these tales and what they might mean can be found in the excellent Mabon ap Modron The story of the Divine Son.  Another worthwhile link, discussing various early literary mentions of Mabon is Mabon ap Modron "Divine Son son of Divine Mother".

Finally, my thanks to Brian Walsh for his excellent article Mabon - A God of Spring Misplaced.

Have a good one! Whatever you call it!




10 Comments
Greenflame
19/9/2013 03:55:12 am

While it's not a big part of our mythos, we do lightly incorporate Mabon's story into our Equinox. We feel that this where the spirits that have dwelled with us for the summer months begin their rapid trek back into the Otherworld, and we invoke the idea of the quest to find the Mabon ( in the Otherworld) so that he could take part in the hunt for Twrch Trwyth. We also view the impending winter season as a time to go within and "find the Mabon."

Reply
Kris Hughes
19/9/2013 05:04:19 am

That sounds really nice, Greenflame! I love that you have put thought into your celebration of the event.

Reply
Eilidh Nic Sidheag link
20/9/2013 12:52:53 am

Aidan Kelly has explained his reasons for choosing Mabon for the Autumn Equinox here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/aidankelly/2012/09/mabon-and-the-city-beneath-the-sea-part-ii/. Personally, in the absence of concrete evidence of what the Brythonic or Gaulish Celts did, I go with Mike Nicols' suggestion that the "death" of Llew in the Mabinogion is set at the equinox: http://deoxy.org/time/sabbats/llew.htm, and I call the festival Samalinoxts Messi, which is a reconstruction of the Gaulish for "Harvest Equinox". I think it's fine for others to use Mabon or whatever other name they like, though :-)

Reply
Kris Hugehs
20/9/2013 03:06:50 am

Thanks so much for the link, Eilidh! That's one mystery solved.

Yes, the Llew concept is worthy of consideration, I agree. Ultimately, it's down to personal choice, as you say.

Reply
Ed Watson link
20/9/2013 09:03:08 pm

Like you I've never understood why Mabon is associated with the autumn equinox?
Significantly, the tale of Culhwch and Olwen starts on 1st January (mid-winter). Mabon was taken from his mother when three nights old but is found and released from his prison.
In Irish mythology we find the nearest parallel to Mabon is Óengus mac ind-Óg, the 'Son of Youth'. Óengus resides in the Neolithic chambered tomb of Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange), which is well known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the light of the mid-winter Solstice sunrise.
At solstice the sun literally 'stands still' on the horizon for three days before it is 'released' and commences its journey through the year.
Any celebration of Mabon should be held at the mid-winter solstice.
Keep swimming!

Reply
KrisHughes
23/9/2013 02:15:02 am

I'm a bit behind on my comments, Ed - too much equinox fun...

I've been involved in some interesting discussions recently about what deities might be more appropriate at this time of year. The idea of Lugh, as many relate him to St Michael and it's near Michaelmas, seems popular. I need to give that more thought before I would have a valid opinion. I'm just happy if people think about why the do what they do, and use the names they use - even if I don't agree with their reasoning.

Reply
Eowyn link
22/9/2013 07:59:41 pm

Thanks for this article. A couple of years ago in my journal I wrote for pages pondering and researching this 'Mabon' question.

I pretty much reject most of the 'Celtic' names for the holidays. I call them Candlemas (also Imbolc, which I pronounce 'Immulk'), Spring Equinox, Beltane (also May Day), Summer Solstice, Lammas, Autumn Equinox, Samhain and Winter Solstice. :) I like to keep things relatively simple.

Reply
Kris Hughes
23/9/2013 02:18:11 am

Thanks for commenting, Eowyn. I understand how names for days can just "feel right" (or not so right). For me, understanding the WHY of a name is very helpful in either accepting it, or looking for something which makes more sense.

Reply
Aradia link
24/9/2019 12:39:43 am

What story do you prefer to tell with the the autumn equinox? It is not the story of mabon I think. ;)

Reply
Kris Hughes
25/9/2019 01:44:29 pm

Interesting question! As much as I love storytelling, I suppose I don't feel the need to connect story to the Equinox, or to other points on the wheel of the year, either.

I connect certain deities strongly with some points on the wheel, less so with others. When I have a deity association then I might tell the myth of that deity, but I don't feel the need to construct associations if they aren't there.

Because so many people are saying "Mabon" at this time of year, I've chosen to sort of take up His cause and tell His story (as well as telling the story of where this new name for the Equinox came from!) - but it isn't really because I associate Him with the season objectively.

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