The Fall Equinox Pagan Name refers to the name and symbolism associated with the autumnal equinox in pagan traditions. In many pagan practices, the two equinoxes (spring and fall) are celebrated as important times of balance and transition. The fall equinox, also known as Mabon in some pagan traditions, represents the harvest season and the balance between light and dark. It is a time when day and night are equal in length before the descent into darker months. The name "Fall Equinox" itself refers to the astronomical event that occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in equal lengths of day and night. However, in pagan traditions, this event is often given a more mystical and symbolic meaning.
Some people have claimed that “the whole of Wicca is appropriated anyway, so what?” However, this is not true. Calling the quarters and casting a circle weren’t appropriated from an oppressed culture (they’ve been around in the Western Magical Tradition for centuries). Likewise, the quarter days (Candlemas, May Day, Lammas, Hallows Eve) have been in English culture for centuries. And celebrating the solstices too. And Spring Equinox and Harvest.
The Wheel of the Year is a symptom of modern tidiness and the perceived need to have a festival every six weeks which I think is a great idea, but it has to be admitted that it has meant shoehorning things into the Wheel of the Year that shouldn t have been thus shoehorned. Calling the Autumn Equinox Mabon has no ancient precedent whatever, and does have the effect of erasing what the god Maponos is really about, and obscures the fact that the autumn equinox was not marked by ancient pagans as the autumn equinox.
However, in pagan traditions, this event is often given a more mystical and symbolic meaning. Mabon, which is Celtic in origin, is one of the names associated with the fall equinox. It is named after the Welsh god Mabon ap Modron, who represents the harvest and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Names for Pagan Festivals
You might be wondering where the names of contemporary Pagan festivals come from, and why some of them them are controversial. Here’s a brief history of where they come from, and why it matters.
Beltane and Imbolc and Lughnasadh and Samhain are Irish and Scottish Gaelic names (the English names are May Day, Candlemas, Lammas, and Halloween or All Hallows Eve). Yule and Litha and Eostur are Anglo-Saxon names.
Imbolc or Candlemas
The name Imbolc is Irish and Scots Gaelic, and refers to the festival celebrating the goddess Brighid. Brighid was honoured in both Ireland and in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
The name Candlemas is English and refers to the many candles that were lit for the Catholic feast of the Purification of the Virgin.
Spring Equinox
Aidan Kelly made a list of festival names in the 1970s. He decided to call Spring Equinox “Ostara”. This was a conjectural name for the Spring Equinox and the goddess Eostre which was invented in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm. Ancient cultures did not celebrate the Spring Equinox. The Christian festival of Easter (named some variant on Pascha everywhere else in Europe) is the first Sunday after the first full moon after Spring Equinox. The ancient Anglo-Saxon Pagan festival of Eostur was the fourth full moon of the year, and did not always fall near Easter. Early medieval converts to Christianity persisted in calling the festival by the old Pagan name. In the Druid tradition, this festival is named Alban Eilir (the Light of the Earth).
Beltane or May Day
Beltane or Beltainne (meaning “bright fire”) is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for the first of May. In England it was and is called May Day. The month of may was named after the Roman goddess Maia. The North of England had the custom of jumping over the Beltane fire and driving cattle between two fires on May Day. This was also the custom in Scotland and Ireland. The south of England celebrated with maypole dancing. The Midlands had the custom of May Games and creating a bower for Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Litha or Midsummer
The name Litha for Midsummer is a genuinely old name, as that is what the Anglo-Saxons called it (the month of June was named Aerra Litha, before midsummer, and the month of July was named Aeftere Litha, after midsummer). I tend to just call it Midsummer though. In the Druid tradition, this festival is named Alban Hefin (The Light of the Shore).
Lammas or Lughnasadh
Lammas means ‘loaf-mass’ and is from Middle English. It is a celebration fo the corn harvest. Lughnasadh is a completely separate word and refers to the games established by the god Lugh in honour of his mother Tailtiu (pronounced Tahl-tee). Lammas and Lughnasadh are not interchangeable.
Autumn Equinox
The name Mabon was applied to Autumn Equinox by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s because he thought the Welsh story of Mabon ap Modron was similar to the Greek story of Demeter and Persephone which is often associated with the Autumn Equinox. This is an attempt to universalize mythology which is generally a bad move: myths are particular to their locale and culture. Also the Welsh god Mabon was and is nothing to do with the Autumn Equinox, which was not celebrated by ancient Pagans. Contemporary Pagans celebrate it as the time when day and night are equal. Some people relate it to the myth of Demeter and Persephone. It can also be seen as the fruit harvest. In the Druid tradition, this festival is named Alban Elfed (the Light of the Water).
Samhain, Hallowe’en, or All Hallows’ Eve
Samhain or Samhuinn (pronounced soween or saveen) is an Irish and Scottish name. All Hallows’ Eve and Hallowe’en are English names. It has been argued that the ancient Celtic Samhain was not a festival of the dead at all, but rather a celebration of the liberation of the People of Danaan from the Fomorians. The names Hallowe’en and All Hallows’ eve refer to it being the eve of the Christian festivals of All Saints and All Souls.
Yule or Midwinter
Yule is a very old name for the winter solstice and it is known as that (with various spellings) in many northern European cultures. It is not known exactly what the word means but it has been suggested that it means a turning point. The Anglo-Saxon name for this festival was Geola. The Anglo-Saxons also celebrated Modranecht or Mothers’ Night. In the Druid tradition, this festival is named Alban Arthan (the Light of Arthur).
This name reflects the pagan belief in the cyclical nature of the seasons and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Other pagan names for the fall equinox may vary depending on the specific tradition or cultural context. For example, in Norse pagan practices, the fall equinox is known as Haustblot or "Autumn Offering," emphasizing the significance of the harvest. In other traditions, the name may reflect a specific deity or mythological figure associated with autumn. Overall, the Fall Equinox Pagan Name reflects the rich symbolism and spiritual significance attributed to the autumnal equinox in pagan traditions. It signifies a time of transition, balance, and gratitude for the bounties of the harvest season..
Reviews for "Choosing the Perfect Pagan Name for Your Fall Equinox Baby"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars
I found "Fall equinkx pagan name" to be quite underwhelming. The storyline was confusing and seemed disjointed, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the plot. The characters lacked depth and development, leaving me feeling disconnected from their struggles and motivations. Additionally, the writing style was convoluted and overly verbose, making it a tedious read. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 1 star
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3. Amanda - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Fall equinkx pagan name" but was ultimately disappointed. The pacing of the story was slow and it felt like nothing of consequence was happening for the majority of the book. The plot twists were predictable and lacked any real impact. The writing style was lackluster and failed to evoke any emotional response from me. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real depth. Overall, I found this book to be an unremarkable and forgettable read. I would not recommend it.
4. John - 1 star
"Fall equinkx pagan name" was an absolute disaster. The writing was pretentious and self-indulgent, making it unbearable to read. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their vocabulary prowess than in actually telling a coherent story. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, and the characters were unrelatable and poorly developed. I struggled to make it through the first few chapters and ultimately gave up on this book. I would strongly advise others to avoid wasting their time on this literary failure.