Lughnasadh, which translates to 'the marriage of Lugh', is an agricultural and fire celebration of sporting competitions, dancing, bonfires, and feasting.
It once had festivities running two weeks either side of August 1st in the northern hemisphere - a whole month of celebration.
Here in the southern hemisphere Lughnasadh is acknowledged traditionally on February 1st and exactly on February 4th, when the sun is in the astrological sign of Leo.
The Celtic god Lugh, guardian of the crops, is associated with the sun and wheat harvest. It is during this time he marries the Earth Mother, and so rituals of love, and magick to promote healthy crops, fine weather, and plentiful harvests are often practiced.
One tradition saw a cart wheel lit and then rolled down a hill to represent the suns descent from the sky as the days begin to shorten, and determine the kind of harvest to be expected - if the cart wheel travels without interceptions and obstacles, a favourable harvest season is foretold.
The three days leading up to Lughnasadh were considered sacred, devoted to purification and dedication to Irelands ancient solar goddess, Ana. Water was considered taboo during this period, people abstained from bathing or fishing prior to the festivities.
Lughnasadh was later adopted by Anglo-Saxons, being called Lammas, old English for 'loaf mass'. The first loaf made with grain from the harvest was blessed by the church during mass and sometimes broken up and placed with grain storage to ensure its protection.
Some ways you could celebrate Lughnasadh:
- Find a farm in your local area that lets you harvest your own bounty. We love strawberry farms, why not find one that allows you to pick your own then incorporate them into some love rituals or bake them into muffins to serve at your feasting table?
- Gather one and all for a night of games, dancing, and of course feasting!
- Serve bread you have baked at the table and leave the first, generous slice on a plate for Lugh.
- Take a moment to reflect on the seeds you've sown since spring and what has flourished that you can now harvest.
- Work spells of love, divination, and fertility, and magick to ensure success in your future endeavours, may they be bountiful come time to harvest.
- Make corn dolly charms to protect your home and health