Copyright © 2002 Kristen Madden
A Feast of Thanksgiving

Can you smell it, even if only in your imagination? The thought of Mabon evokes the warm scents of cooling apple and pecan pies wafting through on the crisp autumn breezes. Mabon air just feels and smells different. It is dearer and usually a bit cooler than the preceding months, unless it is accompanied by an Indian Summer period of warm temperatures. Merely thinking about this time of year calls to mind memories of the warmth of a fireplace and smell of pine and juniper burning.

Autumn brings with it some of the most wonderful food and drink. As the time of the Second Harvest, and in preparation for the coming winter, we honor this time of bounty with gratitude and celebration. As such, it is known as the Pagan Thanksgiving and we indulge just as much at our Mabon feasts as anyone does at the mundane Thanksgiving in November.

Oh, do we feast! We share in all things made of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. Bread, corn, beans, squash, and root vegetables are traditional fare, along with apples, berries, grapes, and pomegranates. We delight over cider, ale and wines, muffins, popcorn and caramel apples. This is truly a time of self-indulgent comfort before the winter winds begin to blow.

All foods harvested and stored are part of the abundance we share at this time of year. Many of us find that, like the animals that share our world, we are also beginning to put on weight for winter. It is nearly impossible to resist the comforting, warming, and mouth-watering treats of the season!

Food

The foods of autumn are like no other. These are heartier than summer fare yet lighter than most winter foods. They offer us a delicious combination of Lughnasadh and Samhain. The bounty of the Second Harvest is what makes up our Mabon feasts. For many people this marks the beginning of hunting season. Special prayers are offered by those pagans that eat meat. We honor the animal that gave its life for our sustenance. We ask blessings for this being and release its spirit to the next world.

The cornucopia of the season is full of apples, grapes, berries, pomegranates and nuts. Beans, squash, corn, and root vegetables fill our stomachs in a myriad of ways. And then there are the wonderful, aromatic breads of the grain harvest! These are often baked in sun shapes or with sun designs cut into the dough before baking. They may be filled with the fruits and vegetables of the season and many of them are meals in themselves.

As any Kitchen Witch will tell you, the preparation of food and drink should rightly become a sacred event and a time to work blessing magick for your loved ones. Our energy affects the foods we prepare even when we are not consciously directing it. Therefore, it is important to be aware.

If you are feeling tense or are in a generally rotten mood, don't come to your kitchen with all that energy. Take a moment to smudge your personal space or experience a grounding meditation before starting dinner. Do whatever you need to do let go of your tension, anger, or worry so you may come to this food in peace and love.