Lughnassadh 2021

Lughnassadh, or Lammas is the festival that marks the beginning of the harvest, halfway between Litha (the Summer Solstice) and Mabon (the Autumn Equinox). Typically, it is celebrated on or around August 1st using today’s modern calendar in the Northern Hemisphere. Lughnassadh is the first of the harvest festivals, followed by Mabon and Samhain! Lughnassadh was most widely observed in the Celtic areas, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Wales and England also observed a festival similar to Lughnassadh, though in those territories it was referred to as the alternative name “Lammas.” Lughnassadh is one of four of the main Pagan festivals. These festivals are Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhain!  

Historically, Lughnassadh was probably celebrated on the day of the first grain harvest. It was likely a festival that began early in the morning to allow for the use of the most sunlight- to harvest, to bake bread, and to find togetherness before sundown. Some other festivities included trading grains and other goods, such as livestock, and a huge feast of the newly harvested crops, bilberries, and the meat of a sacred bull in which everyone took part! The hide of this sacred bull was also used in ritual practice to honor it and its replacement, a new young bull to be sacrificed in the following year’s Lughnassadh feast. It’s also thought that there was a custom of matchmaking during Lughnassadh- in which those of marriageable age were matched together in “trial marriages.” These young couples held hands through a hole in a wooden door and were to stay “married” for a year and a day- after that, the marriage could be made official, or it could be annulled without question.  

Of course, there were also religious aspects to Lughnassadh. It wasn’t uncommon for villagers to visit holy sites, such as wells, to make offerings in the form of coins or other items of value. In exchange for their offering, it was believed they would be blessed with good health. Some also trekked up holy hills to make offerings in the form of grains or corn to give thanks for the abundant harvest!  

Lughnassadh also signifies the first inkling of autumn- the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. The dark months are on the way and the witches’ season is upon us! 

Another way to honor the festival of Lughnassadh is to incorporate elements into your altar or sacred space. You can include associated colors, such as golds, greens, yellows, oranges, or browns. Colors commonly associated with the beginning of autumn! If you’re a crystal connoisseur, consider using crystals of these colors as well. Maybe you’re one with a green thumb, if so, you can place a plant that is ready to be harvested on your altar, and while you’re harvesting said plant you can focus on your intentions. Foods made from plants can be great additions to your altar as well, be it something as simple as a fruit or veggie, or something a little more involved, like wine or a grain dish!  

How else can we celebrate? Through the act of storytelling! Here are some deities for you to consider looking into for Lughnassadh:  

• Demeter: Greek goddess of the harvest, associated with wheat and grains. Her Roman counterpart is the goddess Ceres.  
• Lugh: Celtic god of light. It is said that he created this festival to honor his mother.   
• Cronus: Often depicted with a sickle in hand, he is the Greek god of the harvest.   
• Danu: Celtic mother goddess  
• Hestia: Greek goddess of the hearth. 
• Saturn: Roman god of the harvest and agriculture. 
• Vesta: Roman goddess of home and the hearth.  

Some of these deities are depicted as having a scythe or a sickle. This is because some crops need to be harvested in a specific fashion. If they were not harvested correctly, there was risk that the crops wouldn’t grow back abundantly. Wheat and grain, common crops, were harvested with a scythe or similar instrument. Vesta, however, is depicted with a flame. This is also an important part as it signifies her being invested in the hearth and the home, keeping things warm and safe for the coming cold months that follow the harvesting season.  

According to Celtic mythology, Lughnassadh began as a funeral celebration for the god, Lugh. Lugh was commemorated with a feast, and an athletic competition was held in honor of Lugh’s mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu was said to have died of exhaustion after clearing the Irish plains to allow areas of farming for the villagers. This athletic competition was named the Tailteann Games after Tailtiu, and the best warriors and athletes competed in games such as the long jump, spear throwing, swimming, archery, and things of the like. There is even evidence of artificial lakes thought to have been created for the purpose of these games! The Tailteann Games have been compared to the Olympic Games of ancient times.  

How cool is that?  

Lughnassadh is really about abundance. The spirit of Lughnassadh was all about harvest, and what was the point of this first harvest? To begin the process of being abundant and sustained during the dark, cold months of the winter! This makes Lughnassadh a super great time to do some work on prosperity and abundance! Check out the tarot spread below created specifically for abundance!  

In modern Ireland, one way that Lughnassadh is celebrated is in the form of the three-day festival, The Puck Fair, which can be traced back to the 1600’s. Though no one is entirely positive, it is widely accepted that The Puck Fair likely developed as a Lughnassadh celebration. During The Puck Fair, a goat is crowned king of the festival and a young girl, usually aged 10-12, is crowned queen. The festival takes place in August and often includes traditional music, dancing, traditional storytelling, small markets, and arts and crafts! Similar festivals have been held around Ireland for the same reasons.