Mabon is the Sabbat that celebrates the second harvest. Along with the
grains, fruits and vegetables are harvested and stored for the oncoming
winter, (or dark half of the year). This is a good time for parents to
start planning inside activities for their small children.

BeanBag Dolls
Materials:
That one glove in the bottom of the closet or drawer that lost its mate
over the summer. A small ball, some dried grain, yarn, and a needle and
thread, and 2 buttons.
Tuck the ring finger up inside the palm of the glove and stitch the
hole
closed. Fill the glove up to the stretch cuff with rice, beans,
popcorn,
etc, and tie it off with a piece of yarn. For the doll's head, place a
small ball (ping-pong) in the cuff and sew the glove closed. For hair,
wrap the yarn around your hand several times, tie the loops together at
one end with a strand of yarn, and cut the other end. Stitch the tied
end to the top of the doll's head. Finish the doll by stitching on some
button eyes. (Explain to children that although we all look different
on
the outside, we are all the same inside. Tell how the God/dess made
each
of us with love and care.)

Animal Brethren
Materials:
An apple, paring knife, lemon juice, whole cloves, pencil, jar, glove,
felt scraps, glue. Peel the apple and remove some of the core from the
bottom. (Parents) To carve the animal's face, cut two holes for the
eyes, slice two triangle flaps for the ears, cut a deep "X" for the
nose
and mouth, and some shallow slits for whiskers. Soak the apple in the
lemon juice for about 15 minutes, then remove to a paper towel to dry.
Insert cloves into the eye holes. Push the pencil into the bottom of
the
apple, and set it in a jar to dry. To hasten drying process, a food
dehydrator works great! As the apple dries, lift the ears so they dry
upright. When the head has dried, use the glove and felt scraps to make
the body. Glue on markings and paws. Cut off the middle finger of the
glove, and drop the pencil through it, with the head attached. Have the
child grab the pencil with their 3 middle fingers, while using the
thumb
and pinkie for the animal's forelegs. ( Discuss the habits of different
animals during the winter months. Explain why we leave bird food and
other tidbits out for our winged and furry brothers.)

Edible Autumn Leaves
Materials:
1 bag each of semisweet chocolate and white chocolate morsels (chips),
broad leafed herbs such as mint, basil, celery, etc.
Select your sprigs of leaves in the produce section of your grocery
store or from your garden. Wash leaves thoroughly and pat dry. Melt
chocolate with 2 tsp. of butter, stirring until smooth. Pour chocolate
into small bowls and give each child a clean small paintbrush. Paint
the
underside of the leaves with the chocolate and place on a wax paper
covered cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm. Slowly pull real leaves
away from chocolate leaves. (Explain to children how art is a
reflection
of the true beauty of Nature.)

Woodsy Flower Vase
Materials:
¼ inch diameter sticks, scissors, an empty plastic (p-butter) jar, 2
thick rubber bands, ribbon, glue, and pinecones.
Break or snip sticks to about 1in. longer than jar. Place rubber bands
around jar, 1in. from top and 1in. from bottom. Tuck the sticks under
the rubber bands, placing them together as close as possible. Once the
jar is surrounded by sticks, push the rubberbands to the center of the
jar and cover with autumn colored ribbon. Ribbon can be tied into a
bow.
Glue on a few pinecones and fill the vase with flowers. (While hiking
and looking for sticks, explain why fallen sticks are more Earth
friendly, but if live branches are needed, to take only what is needed
and thank tree for gift.)

Harm None Paper Bouquets
Materials:
Autumn colored tissue paper, scissors, crayons, and pipe cleaners.
For each flower cut eight 3-1/2 in.squares. With side of crayon color
down 2 opposite sides on each square. Lay on flat surface with colored
sides at top and bottom. Start folding from the top, like a paper fan.
Each pleat should be approx 1/2in wide. For the stems, bend a pipe
cleaner 1-1/2in. from one end to form a hook. Place the pleated squares
in a stack, and place the stack in the hook. Twist the hook around the
stem. To open flower to full bloom, twist the petals a half-turn near
the stem. (Thank children for beautiful vase of flowers that can be
used
on your alter for the Mabon ritual, and later a table center piece.)

Begin Again Eggheads
Materials:
A couple of eggs per child, felt-tip markers or crayons, grass seed or
bird seed, some soil, a nail, and some plastic wrap.
Have children draw funny faces on their eggs with the markers or
crayons. Take the nail and make a hole at the top of the egg, keep
working on hole until about the size of a quarter. Drain and rinse
inside of egg and spoon some soil into it. Put in some grass/bird seed,
moisten soil, and wrap in plastic wrap. Set in a sunny spot to sprout.
Once grass starts sprouting, remove the wrap and water daily. (Explain
to children that although the egg is no longer what it was originally,
it has gone through a death and a rebirth as something else living and
part of Nature.)

Animal Guide Totems
Materials:
A sheet of construction paper, plastic spoon, small water-based paint
set, markers, paper towel tube, and glue.
Fold the sheet of paper in half, and have the child drop spotsofpaint
along the fold. Fold the paper, lay it flat, and gentely rub it.
Re-open
the paper and have the child tell you all about the animals, fish, and
birds that they see in the paint blots. When the paint dries, help the
child outline these creatures with the markers. Cut out and around the
blot characters and glue to the paper towel tube to make the totem
stand
upright. (Discuss the different AnimalGuides, and the qualities we
learn
from them.)

Backyard Chant -- Mabon Prayer
Autumn colors of red and gold
As I close my eyes tonight
Such a wonder to behold
I feel the God/dess hold me tight
Watch leaves turning one by one
Though it grows dark, I shall not fear
Captured bits of Autumn Sun
For Divine Love protects all here
Soon they'll fall and blow away
Through the night, until the morn
The golden treasures of today
When the shining Sun's reborn
When the trees are bare
Time to sleep, time to dream
And the ground grows cold
Till warm gold rays upon me stream
These warm memories
I'll still hold….
---Akasha

This was taken from a Yahoo! Group called "Magic Light."