The heat has begun to lift. Mornings arrive with mist, and the first hints of color touch the trees. September walks the edge of summer and autumn, carrying both memory and momentum. It’s a time of turning inward, preparing, and paying attention to subtle signs.
Here are a few of our favorite folklores for this in-between season:
The Apple of the Ancestors- In many Celtic and British traditions, apples were believed to hold otherworldly power, symbols of immortality and gateways to the fae realm. Burying an apple on the equinox was thought to honor the dead and bless the coming season.
Wind from the West- A west wind in early September meant a mild winter ahead, while an east wind was said to warn of hardship. Farmers and fishermen watched the breeze closely, believing it carried whispers of what was to come.
The Singing Moon- September’s Full Moon—often called the Corn Moon or Barley Moon—was said to carry songs of the harvest. In some parts of Eastern Europe, people believed you could hear voices in the wind on full moon nights, especially if you were working late in the fields.
The Grapevine’s Warning- If grapes soured before harvest, it was said to be an omen of conflict in the home or village. A sweet harvest, on the other hand, meant harmony for the coming year. Offerings were sometimes left on vines to keep the peace.
The Equinox Divide- On the Autumn Equinox, folklore held that animals might act strangely—standing still, staring, or refusing to be herded. This was seen as a moment when the veil thinned, when animals became more aware of what we couldn’t see.
The Ashes of the Fire- It was once common to scatter ashes from the hearth on Mabon to bless the land and honor the fire’s spirit before colder nights set in. This ritual was often done in silence, with intentions spoken only in the mind.
Corn Dollies & Empty Fields- After the final harvest, farmers would often craft corn dollies and place them in the last field cut, believing the spirit of the grain needed somewhere to live until the next planting season. Destroying the dolly before spring was considered a terrible omen.
Light Three Candles - In Appalachian and Irish traditions, lighting three candles on the equinox and placing them in different rooms was believed to balance the home’s energy and protect it through the seasonal shift.
