Celtic Festival of Lughnasadh or Lammas

Wiccan Harvest Sabbat Celebrating the Corn Mother and Hand-Fasting

May 19, 2009

Lughnasadh or Lammas falls when the first of the grain is harvested at the beginning of August, naturally an important moment for traditional agricultural communities

The new grain represents not only food to sustain life over the winter, but also the seed for the following year’s crop. Lughnasadh or Lammas is a time to celebrate the bounty of nature, literally to reap the good things sown earlier in the year.

Traditional Lughnasadh Activities

Traditional Lughnasadh or Lammas activities included:

The Corn Mother was honored in her many guises, including Demeter, the Solar Goddess and the Wise one of the Earth. Given she holds the power to preserve or destroy life, it is little wonder that she is held in such high esteem.
Families and clans would reunite at Lughnasadh or Lammas at fairs, horse races and other gatherings.
Corn Dollies and other sculptures made of the first and last sheaves of corn, would be made and variously kept until Yule, passed around the community as the harvest was brought in, or ritually burnt.
Hand-fasting ceremonies were often performed at Lughnasadh or Lammas, the traditional marriage ceremony which bound couples for an agreed period of time, often a year and a day.
The first corn would be baked into a loaf, and beer made from the previous year’s harvest would be drunk.
Women would wear meadowsweet woven into headdresses and garlands. Meadowsweet is magically associated with love, and its heady perfume would cheers the hearts of all those who enjoyed it.

Celebrating Lughnasadh or Lammas Today

Lughnasadh or Lammas marks a turning point in the year, a time to prepare for winter, not only by gathering and preserving food, but also as a time to count one’s blessings. The autumn and winter is naturally a time for inner work, peace and reflection. At Lughnasadh or Lammas we have the opportunity to use the energy of the summer to prepare for this more reflective time.

If there is something that needs to be addressed in life, Lughnasadh or Lammas is an excellent time to consider, and to act, particularly concerning any gardening or other outdoor activities. Decorate the home with the plants of wisdom gorse and sage to support the fulfillment of you plans.

Above all Lughnasadh or Lammas is a time of celebration, feasting and good company. Take the time appreciate the good aspects of life, and harness the energy of the occasion to resolve to address any difficulties.

Readers may also enjoy Celtic Festival of Samhain along with Celtic Festival of Imbolc and Celtic Festival of Beltane.

Sources:

Sacred Celebrations: A Sourcebook, Glennie Kindred.
Witchcraft and Practical Magic, Susan Greenwood and Raje Airey.
Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham.

The copyright of the article Celtic Festival of Lughnasadh or Lammas in Paganism/Wicca is owned by Joanne E. Brannan. Permission to republish Celtic Festival of Lughnasadh or Lammas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.