What is Lammas/ Lughnasadh?

Written By Ylana Lovell

Lammas or Lughnasadh falls on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the celebration of the first harvest or the grain harvest and marks the height of summer time. It is a Gaelic festival that is widely celebrated today, particularly in Ireland.

Community, abundance and harvest/ reaping the benefit of what has been sown are the key themes of Lammas/ Lughnasadh. There is also a death & rebirth element with the cutting of the grain, and being reborn as bread, a common celebration.

The word Lammas means 'Loaf Mass' and is usually the term Christians use to celebrate this festival, with loaves of bread often being made from the first harvest & brought to mass to be blessed. The term 'Lughnasadh' originates from the Celtic God 'Lugh', who is a God of Sun, harvest, craftmanship & human skill.

LAMMAS/ LUGHNASADH ASSOCIATIONS

  • The colours gold, green, & yellow (Generosity, abundance, the sun and creativity)

  • All grains incl. Wheat, Corn, Oats, Barley etc.

  • Apples, Plums, Late Summer Fruits & Veg

  • Crafting & Decoration

  • Baking Bread

  • Sunflowers


WAYS YOU COULD CELEBRATE

  • Create an altar with symbolic items

  • Spend time in nature, perhaps picking blackberries

  • Bake bread or pastries

  • Make corn dolls

  • Any sort of crafting that you enjoy

  • Clear out the old and make way for the new

  • Giving of gifts and/or your time to others

  • Drink beer & Feast!

  • Gratitude rituals of any kind

This is the time to be festive and to celebrate with your community. The attitude is very much to bake, feast, share & be merry. A celebration of all that has been grown, created and achieved so far and what is stepping into the light in your life.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Ylana Lovell
Next

Why I don’t feel safe on parenting forums.