Your Month Ahead – September

22 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan

Mabon (pronounced ‘may-bun’) marks the Autumn Equinox, when days and nights are of equal length. It is the height of the harvest season, and for Pagans and Wiccans, signifies the start of the God’s slow decline and (symbolic) death at the festival of Samhain. Mabon is celebrated by gathering seasonal produce for a feast, decorating in autumn colours and taking time to pause and prepare for the coming dark months.

27 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian

This major festival in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church marks the discovery of what its followers believe was the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is celebrated with the lighting of a large bonfire, processions accompanied by traditional Ethiopian music and decorations, particularly featuring Meskel daisies, which are in flower. During these celebrations, people dress up in colourful clothing, which represents their own church.

September’s dates at a glance

Religious/cultural

1 –            Ecclesiastical Year begins, Orthodox Christian
5 –           Mawlid Al-Nabi, Islam
6 –           Anant Chaturdashi, Hindu
8 –           Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Christian
8 –           Nativity of the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
14 –         Feast of the Cross, Christian
21 –         Feast of Saint Matthew, Christian
22 –         Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
22 –         Sharada Navaratri begins, Hindu
23-24 –   Rosh Hashanah, Judaism
25 –         Fast of Gedaliah, Judaism
27 –         Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
29 –         Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Christian

 Awareness and Events

10 –        World Suicide Prevention Day
15 –        World Afro Day’s ‘Big Hair Assembly’
18 –        International Equal Pay Day
21 –        World Alzheimer’s Day
22 –        Autumn Equinox
22-28 –  UK National Inclusion Week
23 –        Bi Visibility Day
23 –        International Day of Sign Languages