That time of the year is almost upon us, The time when we reap the rewards of what we have sown. Lammas or Lughnasadh the Pagan holiday celebrating the first harvest. At this time of the year the garden is ripe and ready for the harvest to begin.
The Harvest Begins
Lammas/Lughnasadh is that time of year when we begin to honour the spirits of harvest. Unlike the Solstices, Lammas does not change date based on the seasons it is celebrated on the same date each year. For those in the Northern Hemisphere (where I live) it is celebrated on August 1st. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere that date falls upon February 1st.
The Summer Equinox has ended and the day are beginning to get shorter, though Summer is still in full bloom, the garden is full of goodies, fields are full of grains and harvest is fast approaching. This is a great time to relax and take some time for the self and reflect upon the coming abundances of fall. Fall being the harvest time is a great time for property spells and rituals designed to bring abundance into your life. It is slowly becoming apparent that the bright days of summer are reaching their end for this year, as we begin reaping what was sown.
Lughnasadh is like it’s name a holiday honour the God Lugh, and to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. Though summer is still is full bloom in the hot August weather (most of the time, lol) we know that the reds and yellows of fall are just around the corner. Apples are beginning to ripen, Summer vegetables have been picked, the Corn is tall and awaiting to be gathered in the fields. This is when we being gathering up grain, wheat, oats and much more.
Grain in Ancient Cultures.
Grain has held an important place through the ages of civilization. Aside from being a major course of food, especially in the colder times of the year, it also holds and important religious significance to many cultures now, and throughout history. It is associated with the cycles of life, death and rebirth.
A very interesting mythology which highlights the significance of the Harvest and grain is an old Summerian Myth. The Sumerian god Tammuz, who was a Patriarch God, as well as the God of Agriculture and the harvest was slain. His Lover, the beautiful Goddess of Heaven Ishtar, was so heartbroken and grieved so heavily that nature stopped producing, and the land went barren. Ishtar filled Tammuz to the underworld and faced her Sister Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld. She was successful and Tammuz was restored to life and returned with Ishtar to the world. The Greek Myth of Demeter, Persephone and Hades is Similar. Festivals and celebration are held all over the world to honour the harvest gods and their sacrifices.
In the Past in Early Ireland it was Bad to harvest grain anytime before Lammas. If it was, it meant that the previous years harvest had run out early. It was seen as a serious failing on the agricultural community. Once August 1st arrived the first grain was harvested and that evening the first loaves of bread had been prepared.
The word Lammas derives from the Old English phrase hlaf-maesse, which translates to loaf mass.
Modern Day Lughnasadh
I live in a farming community so we still have festivals celebrating the harvest and honouring the local farmers for a successful year. But quite often in the Modern world it is easy to forget what our ancestors had to go through just to eat. Now a days grocery stores make accessing food very easy, if we run out we go get more. In the ancient times successful crops and harvest meant the difference between life and death. If the crops were not done right, or left to long or the harvest was bad it could mean starvation for families. Crops were essential to survival and honouring entities and gods who aided in a plentiful harvest was a part of life.
Celebrating Lughnasadh today, we not only honour our ancestors brining their blessing upon us. We also honour ourself and our species and invite property energies into our homes and lives. It is also a great time of the year to do spells and rituals geared towards prosperity and abundance, it is also a good time to show thanks for the abundance we have in our own lives. When you appreciate what you have it makes it very easy to attract more of what you want.
Many modern Pagans celebrate the beginning of the harvest, the cycle of Birth, life, death and rebirth. The Grain god dies, or descends to the underworld but will be reborn again in spring. Is some Pagan celebration Lughnasadh is a day to honour a particular harvest god, particularly Lugh who is the Celtic God of Craftsmanship and Artisan skills. Other deities that are worshipped on Lughnasad are Demeter and Adonis and many others.
Lughnasadh is a time of transformation, rebirth and new beginnings.
Lughnasadh Decoration and Symbols.
Some people decorate their homes and altars in honour of Lughnasadh. Unlike holidays such as Yule and Samhain which now seem to grace our stores with their decorating presence in July, Thank you Costco, Decoration for Lughnasadh might be a little harder to come by.
Here are some examples of great decoration ideas that can give your Home or Altar that Lughnasadh feel.
~Sickles and scythes – as well as other symbols of harvesting
~Baskets
~Jars of Honey
~Loaves of Bread
~Grapes, grape vines, and wine
~Dried grains – sheafs of wheat, bowls of oats, etc.
~Corn dolls – you can make these easily using dried husks
~Early fall vegetables, such as squashes and pumpkins
~Late summer fruits, like apples, plums and peaches
~Crafts, Song and Celebration
~Colors of Lughnasadh – Fall colours specifically – the yellows and oranges and reds of the sun can also represent the turning leaves to come. Add some browns and greens to celebrate the fertility of the earth and the crops being harvested.
~Cloths and candles – deep rich colours such as reds, burgundies, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.
~Ears of corn
~Iron, such as tools or weaponry or armor
~Fall flowers, such as cornflowers or poppies
~Straw braids
~Onion garlands
~Tools that represent your craft or creativity
Lugh is a God of Skill so it also a time to honour those who possess skills. Crafts and Craft-fairs are very popular this time of year. This dates back to medeiavl times where guilds would arrange for their members to display their creations for the villagers to purchase. They would decorate booths with bright ribbons and fall colours. This is also why many Renaissance Festivals begin around this time. Lugh is also knows to some as a patron of bard and musicians. So take the time to honour our skills and your craft and maybe get out there and share it with others. It is also a great time to learn a new craft, refresh one your have not practised in a which, put on a play, white a story or poem, learn a new instrument, whatever you feel is right for you. As this is the season for rebirth and renewal it is a good time. August 1st is also a good day to share with friends and family cooking up a bunch of goodies and feasting.
Final Thoughts.
Lughnasadh is a time of excitement and magic. The natural world is thriving around us, and yet the knowlege that everything will soon die looms in the background. This is a good time to work some magic around the hearth and home. Rituals dedicated to abundance, property, food health, good fortune are all great at this time of the year. During Holidays the energies of the universe are vibrating at a specific frequency and if you tap into that frequency you can access those energies and bring about awesome change and awakening in your life.
Lughnasadh is just as few weeks away to take some time to plan and relax.
Happy Castings
Akelta
