Pagan Holly

I did something new for Mabon this year: went apple picking. It was fun and I’d definitely like to make it a tradition. I couldn’t help but feel anxious the whole time, though, because there were a lot of people around, many of them not wearing masks. I managed to avoid the people, but worrying about staying away from them diminished my enjoyment of apple picking. I hope I’ll be able to try this activity again in a not-too-distant, pandemic-free future.

I have mixed feelings about this time of year. On one hand, it betokens the increased obligations and sometimes-draining social interaction of the school year. On the other hand, fall is my favorite season: the leaves are changing color, the weather is getting cooler, and all that social interaction is actually pretty good for my mental health. It seems appropriate to celebrate the autumn equinox and usher in a time of changes both challenging and refreshing. Mabon is the autumn equinox, which is when the sun appears to rise due east and set due west when observed from the equator. On the equinox, the equator is the closest part of Earth to the sun. After the autumn equinox in September, the northern hemisphere starts to tip away from the sun, which results in shorter days and cooler temperatures. The autumn equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Although the term “equinox” means “equal night,” we don’t actually have exactly twelve hours of day and twelve hours...