Deloraine Celebrate the Autumn Equinox: New „Mabon“ Video Blends Indian Summer Melancholy with a Wild Ritual

The year is slowly turning. Light gives way to darkness, the forests change colour and the air begins to smell of autumn. It's time for Mabon – the moment when day and night briefly find themselves in balance and the Wheel of the Year begins to turn towards the darker half of the year.

It is at this magical time that Czech fantasy pagan-folk band Deloraine have released a music video for their song Mabon. Symbolically, they unveiled it on September 23, 2026, the day of this year's autumn equinox.

When Light Meets Darkness

In some contemporary pagan traditions, Mabon is the name given to the autumn equinox, one of the symbolic turning points of the Wheel of the Year. It is a moment of balance, but also a kind of boundary. From this point onwards, the nights will gradually grow longer and darkness will begin to gain the upper hand over the light.

Mabon is associated with harvest, gratitude, abundance, the completion of one chapter and preparation for a period of rest and darkness. It is a time to look back at what we sowed and reaped during the brighter part of the year – and at the same time, a moment to pause and take in the cycles of nature.

From Autumn Silence to a Wild Stage

By now, we have come to expect that Deloraine's music videos are far more than mere accompaniment to their songs. The band creates each video as a small journey into worlds that naturally resonate with their music. They are willing to travel hundreds of kilometres to find locations capable of enhancing the atmosphere of their songs even further.

Just think of Ragnarok, Arkona, Odin, Havranů Pán or Sabat, not to mention this year's Lada, which we wrote about here, along with its English version here. But Mabon is different in one particular way.

The video opens with a peaceful autumn landscape. Vocalist Máša lies among fallen leaves beneath an ancient tree, singing alongside guitarist Derias. More images of autumn tranquillity follow – Máša dances, sways on a swing and lets herself be carried away by the atmosphere of nature. But the calm isn't destined to last forever.

Concert footage gradually begins to creep into the autumn scenes, and the peaceful atmosphere starts to transform into something far more vibrant. Suddenly, we're no longer simply in a forest beneath colourful treetops. We find ourselves right in front of the stage, surrounded by the crowd, lights and people dancing alongside the band.

A keen eye will also spot footage from this year's Sabat Fest at Země Keltů, the band's summer show at Špilberk Castle, as well as performances abroad. The individual shots alternate with autumn landscapes, creating a contrast that surprisingly suits the song perfectly. The tranquillity of nature collides with the energy of a live performance.

It is precisely this contrast between autumnal calm and the energy of live shows that gives the video its own unique charm. Mabon is therefore not simply a song about autumn. It is also a reminder of what is inseparable from Deloraine – the live connection with their audience, dancing, music and a shared experience. Band member Daphyd Sens also contributed to the making of the video, with footage shot in the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Another Taste of Dryáda

Mabon is also another taste of the upcoming album Dryáda, which the band have been talking about for some time. So for now, all we can do is wait and see when we finally get the full record. Until then, we can make the wait a little more enjoyable with Mabon, Lada and the band's previous albums Vlaštovka and Srdce z kamene.

Autumn can begin. The days are growing shorter, the leaves are slowly leaving the treetops and night gains a little more ground with every evening. And Deloraine are adding their own musical celebration to the moment when light and darkness briefly meet halfway.

Mabon is out now. And if you've been waiting for the perfect song for those first autumn evenings, you've just found it.

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