In Celebration of Lughnasadh / Lammas

Lughnasadh (“LOO-nuh-sah” or “LOO-nah-sahd.”) The pronunciation can vary slightly based on regional accents)  or  Lammas is the first harvest festival of the wheel of the year  and this cross quarter holiday  is one of the Greater Sabbats (the others are Samhain, Imbolc, and Beltane).  For Wiccans it’s when the God begins to lose his strength and the Goddess mourns his coming passing, which occurs at Samhain. It is also time of both hope and fear. At Lughnasad, modern Wiccans face their fears, concentrate on developing their own abilities, and take steps to protect themselves and their homes.

Lughnasad   falls halfway between Litha (the summer solstice) and the Mabon (the autumn equinox). This year, the holiday falls on August 1, 2024 in the Northern hemisphere and on February 1, 2024 in the Southern hemisphere.

 Lammas is also rooted in Christian tradition, emerging from the Anglo-Saxon era in England. The name itself derives from the Old English words “hlaf,” meaning loaf, and “mas,” meaning mass.As the name implies, it is a feast of thanksgiving for the first  fruits of the corn.The sun has shone upon the crops all season, Rituals of Lammas are centred around seeing the fruits of our labours unfold as we wished. Our hard work has paid off and we can relax now before the preparations for next year begin. Time to chill out, break bread and share our spoils. 

Thoughts of transformation, death and rebirth are also part of Lugnnasadh ,Pagans  also give thanks for the bountiful harvest – honey, fruit, corn – as they realise that the days are growing shorter, and these nutrients will  providet the  sustenance that were needed   for people to survive the coming winter  that  will  soon  return

Bread is very symbolic to Lammas as the barley is now being harvested, with bread, symbolizing the first fruits of the harvest.and so friends and family  gather and break bread together, sharing what we have for every-one’s benefit, and acknowledging our blessings and good fortune The festival  was traditionally marked by baking bread from the first grain harvest and bringing these loaves to the church to be blessed. Lammas is historically observed by various Christian communities, and the rituals involve not only the breaking and blessing of bread but also prayers for a fruitful harvest season. 

Many people choose to celebrate Lammas as an “eat, drink and be merry” festival, focussing on the excitement and gratitude of first harvest – revelling in the fruits of labour now being rewarded and celebrating the bountiful land around us. 

Others prefer to commemorate Lammas by focussing on “sacrifice” – in that something has to give in to make way for something else – the sun has given his strength to the land to create the fruits of the harvest, and the very fruits of the harvest themselves will have to wither and die in order to bring forth seeds for next year’s crops.

Unlike Lammas, Lughnasadh is deeply intertwined with ancient Celtic mythology and cultural practices. It is named after the Celtic god Lugh, known for his skills and crafts. According to lore, the festival commemorates the funeral games Lugh hosted for his foster mother Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the lands of Ireland for agriculture.  Lughnasadh festivals which lasted from 15 July until 15 August.  is traditionally a time for community gatherings that included athletic contests, storytelling, matchmaking, and ritual ceremonies. It was not just about the agricultural harvest but also about celebrating skills and craftsmanship, reflecting the attributes of the god Lugh himself. 

Today, Lughnasadh continues to be observed by practitioners of Celtic based pagan paths, Wiccans, and other nature-based spiritual traditions. It is a time to celebrate the abundance of the harvest, express gratitude for the gifts of the land, and honour the cycles of nature and the changing seasons.

As summer reaches its peak and the fields bear the fruits of labour, many cultures around the world come together to celebrate the bountiful harvest. Among these celebrations, Lughnasadh stands out as a significant festival that honours the first harvest of the year. Lughnasadh is steeped in traditions that connect people to the land and the cycles of nature. 

 Lughnasadh  is a festival rich in symbolism, reflecting the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world. it is a celebration of the Earth's fertility and the abundance it provides. It reminds us to be grateful for the sustenance we receive and to recognize the interconnectedness of all living beings.and is a time for people to come together, reinforcing the bonds of community, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another and  offers us an opportunity to reconnect with the cycles of nature and express gratitude for the Earth's abundant gifts. By honouring the first harvest and celebrating the interconnectedness of all living beings, we can find meaning and inspiration in this timeless celebration. 

The focus on community and the mythological roots of the festival give Lughnasadh a distinct cultural and spiritual flavor, celebrating more than just the harvest—it’s about the endurance and spirit of  community. We can  acknowledge that resistance keeps us alive, helps us struggle against injustice, maintain our boundaries, and live in the world. And yet, for a time, we simply let  Earth hold us. 

In addition to celebrating and expressing our thanks to Mother Earth for her gifts, we take time now to contemplate our own personal harvest. We contemplate what we set out to achieve when we set our intentions at the beginning of the wheel’s cycle, and what  we have succeeded in. 

This is also a time for letting go of anger, injustice and past regrets, preparing ourselves to move forward and plant our own new seeds. Whatever which way  you  decide to  celebrate this day,  may blessings fall  on you and on your house,

A Poem for Lammas

We harvest the seed and the grain from the soil.
And transformation now surrounds us,
There is joy among the chaos, roses as well as bread
Lets share our rewards and bless the earth,
Release sparkles of thankfulness
With our smiles spread a glint of hope,
Let our spirits belong to the world
Move forward  together light and bold,
As summer recedes and winter draws near
Hold on to any chance that breaks,
Bless the departed the newly arrived
Let black clouds of hate drift on by,
In the noisy confusion of life
Keep gratitude within our souls.