The Oracle

Lughnasadh/Lammas - Aug 2nd

Lughnasadh, which is also known by some as Lammas, is held on August 2nd, but like all Sabbat's, it starts at nightfall the evening before and lasts until next nightfall the following day. As you may have noticed Lughnasadh is an Irish term, and it comes from the Irish god Lugh. It is the third fire festival of the year, and signifies the turning wheel of the seasons, for now the bonfire is lit in remembrance of a sun that is now waning. It was traditional to dance around the bonfire at Lughnasadh, but this was not a dance for fertility as observed at festivals like Beltaine. It is a dance to encourage the last rays of the a waning sun to keep warm as nights grew darker.

Lughnasadh is also known as the first harvest or grain harvest. As is considered the time in which the first planted crops could be harvested. Crops would be left in the ground for another week, but work within the community would now begin. All the repairs that needed doing, the construction of granaries and grain stores and the anticipation of a good harvest. It is a time of hard work which is very symbolic of a Pagan lifestyle. The idea that we only gain what we put into any endeavour is a point that is echoed within each of the harvests.

Lughnasadh has also been referred to as the bread harvest, but this is a misnomer, as the bread harvest is more suited to the coming festival of Mabon.

Copyright Richard J Blackburn 2008