"Dragonfly on the Rosehips"
(© David Pilsworth)

What is the meaning of  Mabon?

Mabon is the second of the three harvest festivals, and generally signifies the fruit harvest.

All around us, the hedges are full of the bounty of the Goddess: blackberries, elderberries, rosehips. Horse-chestnuts are falling, and the 'conker season' is in full swing in my son's school.

Spiritual Significance

Given that 'balance' between all the facets of who we are is the goal of most spiritual paths, perhaps it is not surprising that there are two Equinox festivals in the year.

In some years, there is a definite lack of fruit on the trees, and in others, such as this year, there is an abundance that is breathtaking.

So there are two key themes to this festival: that of balance, and that of the harvest. Again the harvest is the result of events earlier in the year. This year, there were no harsh frosts as the flowers were setting on the bushes. There was rain, and there was sunshine. The end product is the bounty of the Goddess. But lest we forget that the God has a role to play, we have the theme of balance. A drought caused by too much sunshine would have resulted in a scanty harvest.

"As you sow, so shall ye reap". Yes, it may be a bit biblical, but it is as applicable to a Pagan.

It is important to remember that, as with the fruit, we too will reap the harvest that is the result of our actions, or lack thereof, earlier in the year.

A Mabon Recipe: Witchberry Jam

I have never been one to label my fruit jams by description only. It is soooo boring to write 'Raspberry Jam' and a date. So that became 'Blow a Millennium Raspberry'. I must admit though, the descriptions were a bit embarrassing when I used my home-made jam at a breakfast meeting in one of my biggest hospital accounts!

Anyway, this one came about because I didn't have enough fruit for strawberry jam last year, so I added what fruit I had left over in the freezer - blackberries and elderberries. As I was not sure how it would taste, I named it 'Witchberry', as a play on words for the unknown nature of the jam, and the fact that it contains elderberries, the fruit of the "Witch's tree".

INGREDIENTS

2lb strawberries or raspberries

1lb blackberries

1lb elderberries

4lb sugar

Lemon juice (omit if using 'jam sugar')

Cinnamon

METHOD

As with any jam recipe, the method is simple.

1. Chuck the fruit into a preserving pan, or large heavy based pan.

2. Stir to a mush.

3. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add the lemon juice here, if using.

4. Add cinnamon to taste. I like approx 2 heaped tablespoons.

5. Bring to a rolling boil and boil until setting point achieved.

   This can be tested by placing a spoon in the freezer to make it really cold, and then dipping it into the jam. If flakes form on the back of the spoon, the jam is ready.

Take off the heat, skim the foam off the top and decant into warmed jars. I use screw top jars (Lakeland). Take care not to get any scum in the jars, as this will cause the jam to spoil. Seal when warm, because this will allow a vacuum seal to form.

Make up a daft name for the jam, label and store. If the jars have sealed properly, this jam will last for years. Allow it to set properly (about a week) before eating. Best eaten with large quantities of scones (see Recipes section)