Only Endless Memory

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Lughnasadh

The pagan group I am involved with at the Unitarian Universalist Church I am involved in is doing a circle for Lughnsadh tomorrow and I had to do a write up to describe what Lughnasadh (also called Lammas) was about. So I wrote it out and actually have an edited version. I get to read this at the circle tomorrow. Eeek!! I have no idea how many people will be there.

The name Lughnasadh (Loo-nahs-ah) was taken from the Celtic Sun God Lugh, but the celebration is mainly a grain festival, sometimes called the Sabbat of the First Fruits. Native Americans would honor the Corn Grandmother and called it the Festival of Green Corn. Barley, wheat, and corn are all ready to be picked by August, as are many other crops in the northern hemisphere.

Lughnasadh is the first of the the Harvest Sabbat (Mabon and Samhain being the other two). It marks the middle of Summer and marks the beginning of the harvest cycle which relies heavily early crops of ripening fruits, vegetables and grains that are all ready to be harvested. it is therefore greatly associated with bread, as grain is one of the first crops to be harvested. Pagans give thanks to all the Gods and Goddesses of Harvest, as well as those who represent Death and Resurrection.

At this time of year, it was traditional to have great feasts to celebrate the first successful harvest and generous libations, offerings of food and drinks, would be given to the deities as thanks for the banquet. It was from these harvests that they would eat through the upcoming Winter. As they would celebrate and give thanks for to the Earth for its' bounties and beauty, so it is with us today.

As the Summer passes, we remember its warmth and gifts to us in the that we eat. Every meal is an act of attuning with Nature, and we are reminded of the constant change in the Universe.

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Posted by Badger :: 6:23 PM :: 2 Comments:

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