Sabbat Series: Lammas
On August 1st, in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be time to celebrate Lammas! Lammas, sometimes also called Lughnasadh, is a celebration between the midpoint of the summer solstices and the autumn equinox. This means this celebration is one of the “Greater Sabbats.” While these two festivals occur at the same time, they’re actually separate celebrations. However, modern-day celebrations appear to be more of an amalgamation of the two.
Lughnasadh is named in honor of the Celtic God, Lugh, who was a master craftsman. His association with harvest and grains is said to be tied back to the funeral of his foster mother, where he held a harvest fair in her honor.
While there are several points of origin of this festival, they vary depending on which geographical location they were occurring. However, what is consistent, historically and for neopagans alike, this celebration is one of harvest — wheat in particular.
Lammas is also the last of the four fire festivals and the first harvest festival on The Wheel of The Year. This is a time to celebrate a successful harvest, which is honored by cutting the first grain of the year.
This is a time to reap the benefits of prior hard work. As such, a feast to honor the harvest is in order.
How To Celebrate
Because Lammas is a festival of harvest and a Pagan festival, it goes without saying, we will eat!
Some good foods to include in your celebration are harvested foods, grapes, and wines. And, of course, bread. There’s never enough bread, right? Lammas is represented by wheat and grains. So, get your fill!
In some traditions, Lammas is a celebration of Lugh, the Celtic god who was a master craftsman and artisan. This makes Lammas a particularly good time to get crafty! If you can incorporate the other elements of Lammas, even better.
Perhaps make a decorative display of grains in a vase to place around your home or altar or create a wreath for your home from dried corn. But don’t limit yourself. If you have a talent, today is a day to spend honoring that talent and creating.
What To Put on Your Altar
❂ Corn
❂ Wheat + Grains
❂ Baskets of Harvested Foods
❂ Wine + Grapes
❂ Vines
❂ Artisan Crafts
❂ Candle Colors: Changing Seasons
❂ Cornflowers + Sunflowers
❂ Fire