Lughnasadh, pronounced “LOO-nah-sah” and known also as Lammas, is a Celtic festival that occurs from the 31st of July through into the 1st of August. It was observed fervently throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man and marks the beginning of the harvest season.
Lughnasadh is the celebration and ritual of the first harvest of fruit, wheat, and grain. This festival both acknowledges and celebrates the waning of light – Lughnasadh is the initiation of Winter preparation.
It is named for Lugh Lámhfada. and is in honour of his step-mother, Tailtiu who perished of exhaustion after clearing the fields of Ireland ready to be planted, sowed and seeded. Lughnasadh was originally a set of rituals, gatherings and funerary games (named Tailteann Games, or
Áenach Tailteann) in honour of Tailtiu’s death and sacrifice.
Some Symbols of Lughnasadh:
Wheat
Corn
Barely
Oats
Onions
Grapes
Straw dolls/straw bales
Corn dolls
Wood
Tarot (strength)
Runes (Eihwaz)
The Colours of Lughnasadh:
Yellow
Orange
Red
Violet
Dark green
Brown
The Stones & Crystals of Lughnasadh:
Carnelian
Cat’s Eye
Citrine
Marble
Sale
Granite
Lodestone
The Herbs of Lughnasadh:
Heather
Blackberry
Rose
Sandalwood
Goldenrod
Important/Celebrated Foods of Lughnasadh:
Bread
Apples
Corn
Beer/Ale/Mead
Grapes
Onions
Apricot
Pear
Activities to be done during Lughnasadh:
Baking/Cooking: Sharing food is a good thing to do with each sabbat, especially those with agricultural ties. If you incorporate seasonal foods, and foods associated with the sabbat itself, it can be seen as an offering or as being done in honour of what you’re celebrating.
Take some time to enjoy nature: Lughnasadh is a time when the seasons are changing, so take this time to walk and enjoy the last that summer has to offer. Collect things whilst you walk to put on your altar if you have one.
Construct an altar: if this is something you do, decorate your altar with some of the items mentioned in the list above. If you’re pagan and have a deity who corresponds with this holiday, leave an offering on your altar. In Lugh’s case, he is a god known for his skills in craftmanship and His ability to turn His hand to anything. He is also known for playing the harp, so anything you have crafted or that has taken skill to create will be well received by Him.
Decorate your home: if you like, small decor changes can really get you in the mood and act as a celebratory act.
Bonfires: Invite friends and/or family to a bonfire. Not only is Lughnasadh a celebration of waning light and of the god Lugh, it is a celebration of fire. Share plans to remove negative habits or influences from your life with your loved ones, burn representatives of negativity, drink to future prosperity and toast to Lugh. Light a candle and do the same, if you are not yet an outed witch.
Craft: as mentioned before, Lugh is a god of craft and skill. Make something! Finish a project you’ve been putting off! If you don’t want to do something in Lugh’s name, you can make dolls out of corn (a very traditional activity) and they can be left on an altar if you have one, used as decoration or turned into a poppet.
Acts of athelticism: The funerary games of Lughnasadh were its primary reason for creation. To honour this, you can do something on a small scale, such as jogging or yoga, or going to the gym, if you are able.
Trading: Bake some bread and give it to your friends/family/coven in exchange for herbs, or some canldes! That’s just an idea. but you get the gist of it. Lots of trading took place at historic Lughnasadh celebrations, as they assembly for this season festival was always large.
Feasting: Ties into the baking/cooking aspect, but using things that come from the first harvest is a good way to honour Lughnasadh and Tailtiu.
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