Fall pagan rites are ancient rituals performed during the autumn season. These rites are believed to be derived from pagan traditions and are still practiced in some parts of the world today. During the fall, nature undergoes a stunning transformation as the leaves change color and the temperature drops. Many ancient cultures viewed this time as a sacred period and conducted various rituals to honor the changing seasons and give thanks for the abundance of harvest. One prominent fall pagan rite is the celebration of Samhain, also known as Halloween. Samhain is an Irish festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
—excerpt © Molly Remer 2018
Originally published in We'Moon 2021: The World , available here!
Michaelmas Although it s not a Pagan holiday in the true sense, Michaelmas celebrations often included older aspects of Pagan harvest customs, such as the weaving of corn dolls from the last sheaves of grain. While some of us would like to think that it s an old and ancient name for the celebration, there s no evidence to indicate that it s anything other than modern.
Samhain is an Irish festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is believed that on this day, the boundary between the mortal world and the spirit world is thinnest, allowing spirits and fairies to cross over. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off evil spirits and honor their ancestors.
Fall Equinox: Rituals and Traditions
This marks the start of the fall season and a point in the sky where the day and night are equal in length.
Also known as Mabon, Fall Equinox is a special time in the year where we meet balance once again. Mabon marks the official time where summer ends and fall begins.
Sometimes known as the witches thanksgiving, it is celebrated with bounty from the harvests planted near Lammas or before.
This time marks a great shift in our seasonal cycle. A shift towards the shutting down of the Earth. Blossoms once colorful and rich in Summer, wilt away and trees prepare to shed their leaves for the coming cold.
We start preparing for winter, animals collect food and warmth in anticipation of darkness. We start to turn inward, and practice gratitude for what the harvest has brought us.
The seasonal cycle of the year is created by Earth’s annual orbit around the sun.
Solstices are the extreme points as Earth’s axis tilts toward or away from the sun—when days and nights are longest or shortest. On equinoxes, days and nights are equal in all parts of the world. Four cross-quarter days roughly mark the midpoints in between solstices and equinoxes.
We commemorate these natural turning points in the Earth’s cycle. Seasonal celebrations of most cultures cluster around these same natural turning points.
September 22: Equinox/Fall: gather and store, ripeness—Mabon (Euro-American), Goddess Festivals: Tari Pennu (Bengali), Old Woman Who Never Dies (Mandan), Chicomcoatl (Aztec), Black Bean Mother (Taino), Epona (Roman), Demeter (Greek).
The Gatherer © Chantel Camille 2018
Another significant fall pagan rite is the autumn equinox, also known as Mabon. This is a time to celebrate the balance between light and darkness as day and night become equal in length. People would gather for feasts and offer prayers of gratitude for the bountiful harvest. They would also create altars adorned with vibrant autumnal colors and symbols of harvest to honor the Earth and its cycles. In addition to Samhain and the autumn equinox, various other fall pagan rites exist. These include apple bobbing, which is believed to bring luck and predict the future, and the burning of a Wicker Man, representing the sacrifice of the harvest. These rites continue to be practiced by modern-day pagans, who seek to connect with nature, honor their ancestors, and celebrate the changing seasons. Fall pagan rites have deep cultural and spiritual significance. They remind us of the interconnectedness between humans and nature and encourage us to pause and appreciate the beauty and abundance of the autumn season. Whether through Samhain, the autumn equinox, or other rituals, these rites continue to be a way for people to celebrate and connect with the natural world around them..
Reviews for "Fall Pagan Celebrations: Cultivating Gratitude and Appreciation for Nature"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I did not enjoy "Fall pagan rites" at all. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, jumping from one character to another without clear transitions. The writing style was also confusing and did not captivate me. Additionally, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters as they were poorly developed and lacked depth. Overall, this novel did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "Fall pagan rites" was a complete disappointment. The storyline was boring and predictable, offering nothing new or exciting. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it a struggle to even finish the book. Moreover, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the characters or believe in their interactions. I found this novel to be a waste of time and would advise others to avoid it.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was quite underwhelmed by "Fall pagan rites". The writing style was overly descriptive, bogging down the narrative and making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, the characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or complexity. I also found the cultural representation in this book to be superficial and lacking authenticity. Overall, I was not impressed with this novel and would not recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - "Fall pagan rites" was a confusing mess. The plot was disjointed and hard to follow, with random events and characters thrown into the mix without any clear purpose. The ending was also unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I found myself constantly trying to make sense of the story, which detracted from any enjoyment I could have derived from it. This book was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone.