Lammastide, also known as Lughnasadh or Lammas Day, is a pagan holiday that falls on August 1st. It is the celebration of the first harvest and marks the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Lughnasadh is named after the Celtic sun god Lugh, who was associated with agriculture and the harvest. This festival was traditionally celebrated with feasting, games, and the reaping of crops. On Lammas Day, people would gather in the fields to watch the cutting of the first sheaf of grain, which would then be made into a loaf of bread. This loaf was often blessed and shared among the community to ensure a good harvest in the coming months.
'Lammas' means 'loaf-mass', for this was the day on which loaves of bread were baked to celebrate a good harvest. As bread was one of the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration to ensure a healthy bounty for the following year. The grain was ground between two stones, moistened with water and then shaped it into a loaf before being baked.
Some families f eed each other hunks of bread, putting the food in the other person s mouth with words like May you never go hungry, May you always be nourished, Eat of the bread of life. It was known as the time where the crops that were planted in the spring go to seed, and is recognized as the time to start gathering seed for the next years planting.
This loaf was often blessed and shared among the community to ensure a good harvest in the coming months. In addition to the agricultural significance, Lughnasadh also has a spiritual aspect. It is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the earth and to connect with the cycles of nature.
The Origins and Practices of Lammas/Lughnasad
Lammas, also known as Lughnasad, or Lughnassadh, is a pagan holiday and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats during the year. Each sabbat marks a seasonal turning point. The sabbat occurs on August 1, which is about halfway between the summer solstice (Litha) and the fall equinox (Mabon). This holiday celebrates the grain harvest. Grain is a very important crop for most civilizations. If the grain was left in the fields for too long, or if the bread made from the grain was not baked in time, families might starve.
In early Ireland, it was not good to harvest grain before Lammas. If you did harvest before then, that meant that that the harvest from the previous year ran out before the next harvest was ready. This meant that the farmers would have failed in providing for their community. On Lammas, the first sheaves of grain were cut, and by that night, the first loaves of bread for the season would have been baked. The word Lammas comes from an Old English phrase that translates to “loaf mass.” In early Christianity, the first loaves of the season were blessed by the church during mass.
In some traditions, this day honors the Celtic god, Lugh. This celebration of the god, Lugh is referred to as Lughnasad (pronounced Loo-NAS-ah). Lugh is the god of craftsmanship; he is skilled in many things, including blacksmithing, wheel making, and fighting. There is some discrepancy as to why Lugh is honored on this day. Some tales say that this is the date of Lugh’s wedding feat. Other stories say it is because he held a harvest fair in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu, on this date.
Modern day pagans bake breads and cakes to celebrate the historical grain harvest (and subsequent bread making). Some observers celebrate with a harvest ritual. This ritual typically involves decorating an altar with symbols of the season. Some of these symbols include scythes (because they are used to cut the grain), corn, grapes, apples, and/or any other crops that might be harvested at this time. Some of these rituals involve casting a circle, and saying some words that symbolize their thanks to the earth for the harvest. After the ritual, everyone there eats some bread together, and may also drink wine to wash it down. To honor Lugh, people make crafts and decorations for their house, to represent his skills in those areas. And as with most sabbats, there is feasting. This feast usually is prepared with one’s harvested crops at this time (if they have their own garden).
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- Rowan Goddess Eyes
It is believed that the energy of the sun reaches its peak on this day, making it a powerful time for manifestation and setting intentions for the coming months. Modern celebrations of Lammastide often include rituals such as making corn dollies, baking bread, and gathering herbs and flowers for future use. It is a time to honor the Earth and all the resources it provides, and a reminder to stay connected to the cycles of nature. Overall, Lammastide is a pagan holiday that celebrates the first harvest and serves as a reminder to appreciate the abundance of the Earth. It is a time to connect with nature, give thanks, and set intentions for the months ahead..
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