The Autumn Equinox: Ceremony, Traditions & the Meaning of the Second Harvest

As the golden light of autumn spreads across the land, the Autumn Equinox arrives as a threshold between seasons, inviting us into a moment of balance and gratitude. On this day, the hours of light and darkness stand in near-perfect harmony, reminding us that life is a dance between dualities - giving and receiving, growth and release, action and rest. For centuries, cultures around the world have honoured this turning point with ceremony, ritual, and harvest traditions that celebrate abundance and prepare the spirit for the quieter months ahead.

What is the Autumn Equinox?

The Autumn Equinox, also called Mabon in the Wheel of the Year, takes place around September 21st–23rd in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the midpoint between the summer solstice and the winter solstice, a sacred pause in the wheel of time and a point of balance between light and dark for on this day there is equal amount of sunlight and darkness in a 24 hour period. After this day, the nights begin to lengthen, guiding us toward the deep rest of winter.

Known as the second harvest, this equinox follows Lughnasadh, the early grain harvest, and precedes Samhain, the final harvest when our ancestors are honoured. Spiritually, the second harvest is about gathering not only the fruits and vegetables of the late season like apples, squash, grapes, corn, and herbs... but also the wisdom and lessons of the past months. It is a time to reflect on what has grown, what has ripened, and what is ready to be released.

Why should we celebrate this festival?

The meaning of the second harvest is layered with symbolism. At its heart is gratitude: for the nourishment of the earth, for the abundance in our lives, and for the unseen support that carries us forward. Yet it is also a season of reflection. Just as the equinox balances light and dark in nature, we too are invited to look honestly at our lives, noticing where we feel in harmony and where we may need to shift.

This moment also asks us to prepare, storing up not only food and warmth but also rest, clarity, and spiritual strength for the season of darkness ahead. Finally, the equinox is a threshold of release. As the trees prepare to shed their leaves, we too are asked to let go of what is complete, making space for new growth in the cycles to come.

Traditions of the Autumn Equinox

Across cultures, the Autumn Equinox has been celebrated in ways that reflect this universal rhythm. It is said that the ancient Celts marked this festival with great feasts, apple picking, and offerings of gratitude to the land. Indigenous traditions often honour the harvest as a sacred exchange between humans and the earth, with prayers, songs, and ceremonies that express deep reciprocity. Even today, many communities celebrate with apple festivals, grape harvests, and seasonal gatherings that echo the rhythms of the ancestors. I would say the visits to apple farms, pumpkin patches and the like are a modern-day form of celebration!

Rest into Ceremony with this Equinox

Creating your own Autumn Equinox ceremony is a meaningful way to align with this energy. You might begin by building a simple altar with autumn leaves, apples, candles, and symbols of the harvest, offering gratitude for the blessings in your life.

A ceremony of balance could include meditation on the equal light and dark, reflecting on areas of your life that feel aligned and those that call for adjustment.

Preparing and sharing a seasonal meal like roasted squash, fresh apples, or warm cider, can turn an ordinary evening into a sacred feast.

And because this season invites release, many people choose to write down what they are ready to let go of and offer it to the fire, trusting in the transformative power of the season.

Align with Nature - Always

The Autumn Equinox is more than a calendar date; it is an invitation to live in rhythm with the cycles of nature - just as all festivals of the wheel of the year are. It teaches us to pause and take stock, to give thanks for the gifts we’ve received, and to honour the process of letting go.

When we step into ceremony, whether simple on our own or elaborately with a group, we deepen our relationship with the earth and with ourselves. This season calls us to gather our blessings, release what no longer serves, and walk gracefully into the inward journey of autumn.

My invitation to you...

If your heart longs to live more in tune with nature’s cycles, I invite you to join me inside The Wheel of the Year my cyclical living course where we honour the seasons through ceremony, journeying, journaling, meditation, and intuitive practices. Click here to learn more.

An autumn blessing for you

May the balance of light and dark guide you into harmony.
May the fruits of your harvest nourish body, heart, and soul.
May gratitude root deeply within you, steady as the turning earth.
And as the leaves release their hold, may you also let go with grace,
trusting the cycles of rest, renewal, and return.

In devotion,
Emily