This week is Lughnasadh (known as Lammas in England)- the 1st of August to be precise. It marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. We still have half of the summer to go, but the harvest begins.
Similar to Litha, it is one of the Gaelic seasonal celebrations that really speaks to me. We are at the height of warmth and abundance, but at the same time we know that change is coming sooner rather than later.
A brief bit of background:
Lughnasadh is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature of pagan origins. In Irish mythology, the festival was begun by the god Lugh as a funeral feast in commemoration of his mother Tailtiu. She was said to have died of exhaustion clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Tailtiu was an earth goddess who represented dying vegetation that fed mankind.
The solemn cutting of the first of the corn would be made as an offering to the deity by bringing it to a high place and burying it. Another common custom was to visit holy wells, sometimes specifically clootie wells. (You can read my post on clootie wells here.) You would walk sunrise around the well whilst praying for health and then leave offerings.
It corresponds to similar harvest festivals around the rest of Europe. It was marked with ritual athletic contests, feasting, matchmaking, and trading. If you are interested in marrying soon, Lughnasadh is one of the most auspicious times for handfasting (alongside Beltane).
Celebrating:
Visit a clootie well, if there is one nearby.
Light a bonfire. If you can’t, light an orange, gold or yellow candle to represent the seasonal energy of the earth.
We are honouring the first grain harvest, so bake some bread!
Toast with a brew – cider or a local beer.
If cider and beer aren’t your thing have a glass of blackberry wine (or similar dark fruit beverage).
Gather some berries and bake your own pie. Easy kitchen magic.
Feast on multigrain bread, blackberry pie, corn-on-the-cob and any homegrown salads. Otherwise support local farmers and go to a local farm shop.
Do a full house cleansing or blessing. You can use smoke, vapor, or sound (bells or chimes work great).
Head for a walk to soak up some seasonal magic.
Decorate with summer flowers, corn dolls, grains and sunflowers.
If you want to mark the occasion with the use of essential oils throughout the day, I’d focus on sandalwood, heather, and frankincense. (Of course, always check if the essential oil you are using is safe for pets – not all are!)
Some crystals that you might be interested in using and helping you focus are amber, citrine, clear quartz, golden topaz, moss agate and obsidian.
Will you be marking the day in any way? What are you excited about in terms of the upcoming remainder of summer?
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Litha (2021)
Beltane (2021)
Celebrating Ostara (2021)
Celebrating Imbolc (2021)
Celebrating the Winter Solstice and Yule
Celebrating Samhain
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My Experience with Reiki
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