Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is a pagan festival celebrated on August 1st. It originated as a Celtic harvest festival and is still observed by modern pagans today. The word Lammas comes from Old English and means "loaf mass," referring to the tradition of baking bread with the first grains harvested. The festival holds significant spiritual and agricultural importance. It marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, symbolizing the shift from the warm, abundant days of summer to the cooler, harvest season. Lammas celebrates the first fruits of the harvest and the blessings of the Earth.

Lammas History: Welcoming the Harvest

Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal.

At Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, the hot days of August are upon us, much of the earth is dry and parched, but we still know that the bright reds and yellows of the harvest season are just around the corner. Apples are beginning to ripen in the trees, our summer vegetables have been picked, corn is tall and green, waiting for us to come gather the bounty of the crop fields. Now is the time to begin reaping what we have sown, and gathering up the first harvests of grain, wheat, oats, and more.

This holiday can be celebrated either as a way to honor the god Lugh, or as a celebration of the harvest.

Lammas celebrates the first fruits of the harvest and the blessings of the Earth. In pagan traditions, Lammas is a time for giving thanks for the abundance of the Earth and honoring the agricultural cycle. It is a time of gratitude for the crops that sustain us and for the labor that goes into nurturing and harvesting them.

Celebrating Grain in Ancient Cultures

Grain has held a place of importance in civilization back nearly to the beginning of time. Grain became associated with the cycle of death and rebirth. The Sumerian god Tammuz was slain and his lover Ishtar grieved so heartily that nature stopped producing. Ishtar mourned Tammuz, and followed him to the Underworld to bring him back, similar to the story of Demeter and Persephone.

In Greek legend, the grain god was Adonis. Two goddesses, Aphrodite and Persephone, battled for his love. To end the fighting, Zeus ordered Adonis to spend six months with Persephone in the Underworld, and the rest with Aphrodite.

Pagans may create altars or participate in rituals to acknowledge the harvest and connect with the cycles of nature. Offerings of grains, fruits, and bread are commonly made as a way to express gratitude. Lammas is also associated with the Celtic god Lugh, who was associated with the sun, harvest, and craftsmanship. He was honored during this festival as a way to pay tribute to his role in the agricultural cycle. Rituals and ceremonies dedicated to Lugh may involve singing, dancing, storytelling, and feasting as a way to honor him and the bounty of the land. Today, Lammas is celebrated by many pagan communities around the world. It serves as a reminder to stay connected to the Earth and be mindful of our relationship with nature. The festival encourages a sense of gratitude, abundance, and interconnectedness with the cycles of life. It is a time to celebrate the gifts of the Earth and to honor our connection to the land and its resources..

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Lammas in Modern Paganism: How the Festival is Celebrated Today