Mabon —by Míchealín Daugherty (Also known as: Second Harvest Festival, Feast of Avalon, Cornucopia, Wine Harvest, the Fall Equinox, Harvest Home, the Autumnal Equinox, Festival of Dionysus, Alban Elfed It is the time of the year when night conquers day. Having defeated Lugh, the Horned King now takes over his functions, both as lover to Blodeuwedd (also known as Tailltiu), the Goddess, and as King of our own world.  Tanist's formal coronation, however, will not be for another six weeks, occurring at Samhain (Halloween) or the beginning of Winter, when he becomes the Winter Lord, the Dark King, Lord of Misrule.  Lugh's sacrifice represents not only the sun's dying power, but also the cycle of rebirth, his energy remaining within the corn we have since harvested. An incarnate corn spirit of Lugh (also called John Barleycorn) was thought to specifically reside within the last stalk, which was traditionally dressed in fine clothes and decorations, or woven into a wicker man-shaped form. This symbolic decoration was then harvested and carried from the field to be burned with rejoicing for the spirits release and Lugh's upcoming rebirth. This effigy was then cut and carried from the field, and usually burned amid much dancing and rejoicing. This annual mock sacrifice may have been the origin of the misconception that Druids made human sacrifices. Although Julius Caesar made this charge, there is not one single eyewitness account of a human sacrifice performed by Druids in all of history! Nor is there any archeological evidence to support the charge.  To mark this holiday today, one could mirror the Celtic tradition of dressing a corn stalk in cloths and burning it in celebration of the upcoming rebirth. Copyright © 2001 Ireland's OWN. See also: Acorn Squash with Honey Harvest Moon The Parshell Roasted Pumpkin Seeds September, the Month of Page last updated 15 Sept 2008 Ireland's OWN Logo & Background by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2008 Ireland's OWN. All Rights Reserved.