Lammas and Lughnasadh

A photo of fresh loaves of bread displayed on bakery shelves symbolizes Lammas on my Wheel of the Year collage. Lammas (August 1) celebrates the beginning of the harvest season. At Lammas, fields of grain are about to be harvested, threshed, and milled. Soon, local orchards will yield apples; grapes will be picked from vineyards, and pumpkins will ripen in time for Samhain (Halloween). Lammas is a good time to honor the cycle of life, death, and rebirth of crops, and to reflect upon what we have personally sown, reaped, and released in our lives.

Lughnasadh

Lunasa is the Irish Gaelic word for August. Lammas coincides with Lughnasadh, the festival honoring Lugh, the Celtic god of blacksmiths, metalworkers, and artisans. Lugh was also once an Irish king, and the history of his festival is entwined with the story of Lugh’s foster mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu is known both as an Irish Queen and as an Earth and Harvest Goddess. She was the daughter of Mag Mor, King of Spain, and was married to Eochaid mac Eirc, the last Fir Bolg king. She asked that her funeral games be held annually on the grounds where a great forest had been cleared. Some say men ordered by the king did the clearing. Others say the goddess herself did the work. Tailtiu asked for her funeral games to be held in peace. In return she would insure a good harvest. Upon Tailtiu’s death, Lugh fulfilled his foster mother’s wishes and held a festival in her honor on August 1, 1420 BC. The feast and games took place at the cleared hillside of Tailte in what is now Teltown, County Meath, Ireland. The games included much of what can be seen at modern Highland Games. The festival continued into the Middle Ages.

Crafts and Activities

Create a Corn Doll

From Europe to South America, many cultures honor the spirit of their crops by creating an effigy. Corn dolls, corn mothers, and straw men are fun and easy to make. To create a corn doll (also made at Imbolc) click here for easy to follow steps. http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolccrafts/ss/Brighid_Dolly.htm

Bake Bread

To elevate the making of bread into a moving meditation or spell, speak a blessing or intention with each ingredient you add. For example, sunflowers embody magical properties for fertility, wishes, health, and wisdom. As you cast sunflower seeds into the dough, say “I add these sunflowers so I may always be wise.” Raisins (grapes) contain powers of fertility, garden magic, mental powers, and money. Rosemary is known for its protective powers, healing, sleep, and love. Rye is used in spells for love and fidelity. Research the magical properties of your favorite ingredients. You may add special ingredients to store bought dough or learn how to make bread following this link. http://baking.about.com/library/weekly/aa020100.htm

Decorate your Altar

Your Lammas altar should acknowledge the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Decorate your altar in fiery summer colors and add a sickle or scythe. (For a family-friendly version, fashion a facsimile from cardboard and aluminum foil.) Add a corn doll, seasonal flowers, a jar of honey, and a basket of corn or sheaves of grain. To represent Lugh, add a summer-colored candle and a hammer or tongs to represent blacksmiths. Lugh championed artistry and skills. So add a symbol of your own trade or talent.

Happy Lammas!

Watch my blog for an upcoming article on the Grain Full Moon.