Lughnasadh or Lammas is typically celebrated starting on the evening of August 1st through the 2nd in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the beginning of the harvest season between the summer solstice and the fall equinox. Named after the God Lugh, this was a time for a large feast to celebrate an abundant harvest and to show that you had faith it would continue to be abundant enough to last through the winter. Lugh started an annual funeral games on this date to honour Tailtu, his foster mother. Tailtu was said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for their annual crops.
In Wiccan tradition, Lammas (Loaf-Mass) represents the waning of the Sun God. He infuses his power into the grain, which is said to be sacrificed during the harvest. That grain is then baked into loaves and brought to the church to be blessed. This was a short time where Christians and Anglo-Saxons were attempting to coexist.
In either case, the holiday has become a representation of celebrating the fruition of your hard work throughout the year and the completion of projects that you have been moving towards. Most rituals are based on harvest and gratitude and recognizing what we have manifested and accomplished in our lives.
Ways to Celebrate
Bake Bread and Feast
The most obvious would be to spend some time putting in some hard work, making your own fresh bread and feast to honour the abundance we have to be grateful for in our lives today.
Make A Corn Dolly
Corn, which is what grain was called is said to have it's own spirit, which becomes homeless when the grain is harvested. Dolly was another name for spirit. In some traditions, people would make a little figure out of some of the first harvest that was a safe home for the Spirit of the Grain until the following Spring.
Make Beer or Fruit Preserves
Anything you can make out of fresh harvested crops is a good way to show honour and appreciation to the first harvest.
Complete Unfinished Projects
Have something or multiple things in your life that are only partly done? Now is the time to put your effort into completing them and being able to appreciate the hard work it took to get there!
Do A Protection Ritual
In many old traditions, the first harvest was used to different types of protection for the home.
Take Part In Sporting Games
If you don't have any festivals around you, come up with your own little competition with friends and family!
Do A Nature Walk
This is a good way to celebrate any holiday on your own to show your appreciation to Mother Earth and all she gives.
Collect Berries
If you are one who loves your fruit, this may be a great way to spend your day or even previous days if you are preparing to make preserves or pies for your feast.
Share Your Abundance With Someone In Need
Donate something or multiple things that you don't need to another person or cause. This is a great way to show appreciation for what you have and allow others to share in those blessings.
Sunflowers
Buy some or pick some that you have grown and place them around your home as a way to honour the gifts of the Sun God.
Until Next Time!
The Bat Witch
