Southern Hemisphere Date: Feb 2
Northern Hemisphere Date: August 1st
Also known as Lughnasadh or Lunasa.
Lammas is the “cross-quarter” day marking the first harvest of early grain, where the first loaf of the bread from the harvest is broken and shared in the name of the Goddess. All crops associated with grain and of the season are sacred to this time. Much festivity is coincident with Lammas in Australia, with Australia Day being marked on January 26. It is a time to reflect on the successes of the year and to reward yourself for jobs well done. Lammas magic can be magic of facing up to change. The God gives his energy to the crops to ensure life while the Goddess, as Mother, prepares to transform into her aspect as the Crone. The God loses his strength as the days grow shorter.
Correspondences
Division: Major Sabbat
Other Names: Lammas, Lughnasad, Lugnassad, Lunasa, Lughnasa, Festival of Green Corn, First Harvest, Ceresalia, August Eve, Elembiuos, Feast of Cardenas
Southern Hemisphere Date: Feb 2
Northern Hemisphere Date: August 1
Associated Holiday: First Harvest
Associated Deities: Ceres, Demeter, the Corn Mother, Lugh, the Green Man
Associated Herbs: All herbs and grains
Associated Stones: Carnelian, Yellow Diamonds, Aventurine, Peridot, Citrine, and Sardonyx, golden topaz, opal, citrine and ametrine.
Symbols of Lughnasadh: Sickles and scythes, Weapons, Armors, Corn dolls, Grapes, and Wine
Foods of Lughnasadh: Corn, Potatoes, homemade bread, nuts, rice, apples, berry pies, barley cakes, roasted lamb, Grains, acorns, oats, crab apples, squash, turnips and Berries.
Drinks of Lughnasadh: Elderberry Wine, Mead, Ale, Meadowsweet Tea, and Cider
Incense of Lughnasadh: Aloes, Rose, Sandalwood.
Ritual Oils: Eucalyptus, Corn, Safflower
Colors: of Lughnasadh: Red, orange, gold, and yellow. Also green, citrine and gray.
Taboos: Not Sharing Food
Plants: Corn, Rice, Wheat, Ginseng, Rye
Element: Fire
Activities: Share a feast with family or covern members, plant seeds, and bake bread
Animals: Roosters, Calves, and Pigs (sows in particular)
Mythical Creatures: Griffins, Basilisks, Centaurs, and Phoenix
Celebration of: A Festival of not only life and bounty, but of harvest and death, the complete cycle of life. Feast dedicated to Earth Mother. Give thanks for what you have.
About Lughnasadh
Lughnassad (LOO-nus-uh), also called Lammas, is known as one of the Greater Sabbats, it marks the beginning of the fall harvest. This is the festival of Lugh, a Celtic God of Light, Fire and God of crafts and skills. As fall approaches and the hours of sunlight begin to shrink, the God begins to lose his strength. At this time the Goddess is already pregnant with the God, who will be reborn again at Yule.
In Lughnassad we celebrate the fruits of the Sun Gods and Mother Earth’s bounty. Their labours are everywhere, in the vegetables, plums, onions, garlic and especially herbs which now will be at their most potent and which will be used in our magical practices.
Lughnassad is also known as the Feast of Bread, because baking is traditional on this day. The name Lammas, comes from an old English festival, the loaf mass, which was held on this date. Wiccans often hold feasts in honour of the holiday because everything is so plentiful at this time of the year.
It is a time not only to think about the fruits of the Sun God and Mother Earth, but also about our own personal harvest. A time when we think about what has happened in our lives and let go of anger, injustice, hates, and past regrets, enabling us to move forward to plant our own new seeds.
Lughnasadh Activities
* Bake a loaf of bread
* Place an ash leaf under your pillow for prophetic dreams
* Decorate sheaves of grain with flowers or ribbons
* Leave offerings of bread to the Fairy Folk.
* Leave offerings of bread or wine for the pregnant goddess, and the Sun God.
* Share a feast with family or coven members
* Eat a meal of fruits and vegetables of the season.
* Private Meditation on the meanings of the season.
* If you have a spring or well in your area, bless it and decorate it with flowers.
* Float flowers at a local creek or pond
* Plant the the seeds from the fruits consumed during the feast.
* Celebrate the first harvest by eating a meal with foods of the season, such as grain and corn.
* Bless your garden, vegetables, fruits, and grains.
* Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year.
* Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the Sabbat fire.
* Harvest fruits from your garden
* Play a game such as rhibo (a Welsh game) which is traditionally played at Lammas. Three pairs of people face each other and hold hands. A person is then laid across the hands and tossed into the air in much the same way grain is winnowed. For little ones use a blanet with two adults holding the corners. Be sure to be careful not to “toss” anyone too high!!!
* Begin gathering and drying herbs, flowers, grains or seeds for spellworking in the next year.