Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas) is an ancient Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of the harvest season and the end of summer. It is traditionally celebrated on August 1st in the northern hemisphere, but some modern practitioners choose to celebrate it on the first full moon in August or on the nearest weekend.

The festival is named after the Irish god Lugh, who was revered for his skills in craftsmanship, poetry, and warfare. Lughnasadh is a time to honour his many talents, as well as the abundance of the earth and the hard work of the farmers who have tended to the crops throughout the summer.

In ancient times, Lughnasadh was a time for games, feasting, and general merrymaking. People would gather together to compete in athletic contests, share stories and songs, and give thanks for the blessings of the harvest. It was also a time for matchmaking and handfasting (temporary marriage), as well as for making offerings to the gods and goddesses.

Today, many modern pagans and Wiccans celebrate Lughnasadh by holding rituals and feasts in honour of Lugh and the harvest. They may offer grains, fruits, and vegetables to the gods and goddesses, and perform rituals to promote fertility and abundance in their own lives. Some also use the occasion to reflect on the passing of the summer and the approaching of autumn and to give thanks for the blessings of the past year.