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A.C.'s Blog:
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Folklore, Fun & Fart Jokes.
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9/22/2024
Autumnal Equinox Today is the Autumnal Equinox, also called Alban Elfed and or Cyhydnos Hydrefol. Wiccan practitioners often use the name “Mabon” for the holiday. Mabon was proposed by Aidan Kelly in the 1970s. He also came up with the name “Litha” for the Summer Solstice. This is because Pagan elders were trying to codify a “wheel of the year”, naming all of the solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarters. They could not find Irish Gaelic or Cymraeg (Welsh) names for the autumnal equinox or midsummer solstice. Mr. Kelly suggested “Mabon” after the deity / wizard / demigod Mabon ap Madron from the Mabonogion, the books of Cymric (Welsh) literature. The word “mabon” simply means child, and “Mabon ap Madron” means son of the mother. In the story, baby Mabon is captured by a monster, and Sir Culhwch and several other of King Arthur’s knights embark on a quest to recover the boy. No matter what you call it, the equinox is the day to celebrate the harvest, with feasting and fun. We attended the 24th annual Grand Rapids Pagan Pride Day, a delight as always. There were vendors, workshops, music and other performances, kids’ activities, and wonderful rituals. Pagan Families & Friends facilitated the main ceremony with an exercise to show we’re all connected, by having participants pass a skein of yarn around. It was baby Willow’s first real ceremony! We, as Caer o Donia a Llew, presented the folkplay about Goddess Mawb / Madron, with a subsequent feast. We also enjoyed making sculpey clay figurines with kids & adults, and drumming with the tribe. What fun! The event was sponsored by Sanctuary of the Winds. The info about Sheela-na-Gigs, Green Men, and Matrikas is posted on the “Works” page along with the notes to the Mawb folkplay. There's some images of Matrikas and Sheelas in the Gallery. Hope everyone has a happy harvest!
Beautiful art by beautiful artists, our Pagan children
9/7/2024
Millions of MatrikasI'll be giving a talk about Matrikas, Sheela-na-Gigs, and Green Men at Grand Rapids Pagan Pride Day on Sept. 21 at Richmond Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Until then, enjoy these many Venus figurines from around the world. They're also called Goddesses, female icons, ancestral mothers, and they're from the Paleolithic Era to the Bronze Age. They're found in Mainland Europe, the British Isles, Turkiye, Greece, and a few in Asia and Africa. The figures represent robust, buxom women, such as myself, with large bustlines, bellies, hips and bottoms. If I'd been born back then, I'd be so fashionable!  |
A.C. Fisher Aldag
Chronicler of Cymric Folklore, Granmother and grouch. Enjoyer of good food. Archives
October 2024
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