Lammas/ Lughnasadh
Hey There Witches!
The Wheel has turned again. At Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, the hot days of August will soon be upon us, much of the earth is dry and parched, but we still know that the bright reds and yellows of the harvest season are just around the corner.
Apples are beginning to ripen in the trees, our summer vegetables have been picked, corn is tall and green, waiting for us to come gather the bounty of the crop fields.
Now is the time to begin reaping what we have sown, and gathering up the first harvests of grain, wheat, oats, and more.
This holiday can be celebrated either as a way to honor the god Lugh, or as a celebration of the harvest.
Grain has held a place of importance in civilization back nearly to the beginning of time.
Grain became associated with the cycle of death and rebirth. The Sumerian god Tammuz was slain and his lover Ishtar grieved so heartily that nature stopped producing.
Ishtar mourned Tammuz, and followed him to the Underworld to bring him back, similar to the story of Demeter and Persephone.
In Greek legend, the grain god was Adonis. Two goddesses, Aphrodite and Persephone, battled for his love.
To end the fighting, Zeus ordered Adonis to spend six months with Persephone in the Underworld, and the rest with Aphrodite.
In early Ireland, it was a bad idea to harvest your grain any time before Lammas, it meant that the previous year's harvest had run out early, and that was a serious failing in agricultural communities.
However, on August 1, the first sheaves of grain were cut by the farmer, and by nightfall his wife had made the first loaves of bread of the season.
Blessings,
Rev. Bella Shay
As someone who has been celebrating Lammas for several years, I find this festival deeply meaningful as it embodies the themes of gratitude, renewal, and the rewards of hard work. Lammas, traditionally observed on August 1st, holds a special place in the pagan wheel of the year because it's the first of the three harvest festivals. This marks a time not just for gathering crops but for reflecting on the cycles of our lives. In my own experience, honoring Lammas means baking bread from freshly harvested grains, which feels like a sacred act connecting me to the ancient farmers who depended on the land’s bounty. Incorporating symbols like sheaves of wheat and seasonal fruits into altars enriches the celebration and brings the spirit of harvest into the home. I also appreciate the mythological stories linked to Lammas, particularly the tale of the god Lugh, a figure associated with skills and craftsmanship. Celebrating him reminds me to honor my own talents and the 'golden light' within creativity. The parallels with other grain deities, such as Adonis and Tammuz, highlight how universally important grain was across cultures, symbolizing the eternal cycle of death and rebirth—a concept that resonates profoundly during this transitional time. Additionally, the caution in early Ireland against harvesting grain before Lammas underlines a practical wisdom—harvest timing was crucial for survival, and this traditional knowledge is something we can still appreciate today. It encourages mindfulness about natural rhythms and sustainability. For those new to Lammas, simple rituals like making a corn dolly or holding a feast with seasonal foods can be beautiful ways to connect with this ancient festival. Celebrating Lammas is not only honoring a historical tradition but also grounding ourselves in nature's patterns and expressing gratitude for the earth’s abundance.
