Post by Mysti on Jul 7, 2007 11:03:28 GMT -5
Lughnasadh/Lammas
This sabbat is celebrated on or between August 1 and August 4th . It is the very first harvest of the year. For most Pagans it is celebrated in a festival type atmosphere. Food is taken from the harvest and cooked in breads and other foods to give thanks.
The festival of Lughnasadh is in honor of the Celtic god Lugh or Lug as he is later known. Lugh is well known for his skills in sports and also the arts such as poetry and harp as well as metal smithing.
Lugh is said to have defeated Balor “of the evil eye” in a tournament w/ a spear (some say it was a slingshot but unconfirmed) . He speared Balor and knocked his eye out and created a hole located northeast of Castlebaldwin in Ireland.
The Festival
Gather your first fruits or whatever is in season at this time of year. Bake breads made from fresh grains and cook out on the grill. This is a Fire festival after all *wink* And it means PARTY!
This is the time for giving thanks for all that has come in the year and also envoking things to move forward as it is the beginning of harvest times.
The Ritual
As it is the time of the first harvest, it is always good to give an offering of thanks back to the Gods. This is done by crumbling some fresh bread for the birds or just leaving some food out for our wild friends. You can also bury a portion of your meal as an offering back to Lugh.
Crafts/ Things to do at this time
Collect sand from between the tide lines. This is a very magickal area between two worlds. This sand can add power to a circle designed to invoke ocean deities or to just set the boundaries between the worlds.
Sea water is good for anointing and also setting boundaries.
Sea water can also be charged by the moon to give an added boost as Moon Water.
Sea shells are also sacred because the represent the spiral that is sacred to the Goddess.
Gather all of the bounty from the harvest and prepare a feast. The corn husks can be made into Corn Dollies to be used at the next Imbolc celebration.
Things to think on
Lammas is a time to say goodbye to all that is not working in your life as well as to invoke healing for regrets. Give them a farewell and accept all that is new and growing in your life. Celebrate your accomplishments with the harvest and take a new step forward in your life.
Credits and Recommended Reading for this Holiday
“Wheel of the Year” by Pauline Campanelli
www.irishcelticfest.com/history.html
www.naturalistsalmanac.com/0801lugh.html
celticways.com/blog/2005/07/lughnasa.html
www.sacredgrove.com/1lughnasa_symbols.htm
www.templedarkmoon.com/lughnasa.htm
www.gaelsong.com/arc_Lughnasa2001.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lammas
www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/lammas.html
www.schooloftheseasons.com/lammas.html
www.mythinglinks.org/Lammas.html
www.cyberwitch.com/wychwood/Temple/lammas.htm
www.witchonthego.com/lammas.html
www.onlinepagans.com/pages/lammas.html
www.lammasfest.us/lammas.htm
www.tryskelion.com/lammas2.htm
www.tylwythteg.com/Lammas.html
www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/Lammas.html
www.twpt.com/lammas.htm
This sabbat is celebrated on or between August 1 and August 4th . It is the very first harvest of the year. For most Pagans it is celebrated in a festival type atmosphere. Food is taken from the harvest and cooked in breads and other foods to give thanks.
The festival of Lughnasadh is in honor of the Celtic god Lugh or Lug as he is later known. Lugh is well known for his skills in sports and also the arts such as poetry and harp as well as metal smithing.
Lugh is said to have defeated Balor “of the evil eye” in a tournament w/ a spear (some say it was a slingshot but unconfirmed) . He speared Balor and knocked his eye out and created a hole located northeast of Castlebaldwin in Ireland.
The Festival
Gather your first fruits or whatever is in season at this time of year. Bake breads made from fresh grains and cook out on the grill. This is a Fire festival after all *wink* And it means PARTY!
This is the time for giving thanks for all that has come in the year and also envoking things to move forward as it is the beginning of harvest times.
The Ritual
As it is the time of the first harvest, it is always good to give an offering of thanks back to the Gods. This is done by crumbling some fresh bread for the birds or just leaving some food out for our wild friends. You can also bury a portion of your meal as an offering back to Lugh.
Crafts/ Things to do at this time
Collect sand from between the tide lines. This is a very magickal area between two worlds. This sand can add power to a circle designed to invoke ocean deities or to just set the boundaries between the worlds.
Sea water is good for anointing and also setting boundaries.
Sea water can also be charged by the moon to give an added boost as Moon Water.
Sea shells are also sacred because the represent the spiral that is sacred to the Goddess.
Gather all of the bounty from the harvest and prepare a feast. The corn husks can be made into Corn Dollies to be used at the next Imbolc celebration.
Things to think on
Lammas is a time to say goodbye to all that is not working in your life as well as to invoke healing for regrets. Give them a farewell and accept all that is new and growing in your life. Celebrate your accomplishments with the harvest and take a new step forward in your life.
Credits and Recommended Reading for this Holiday
“Wheel of the Year” by Pauline Campanelli
www.irishcelticfest.com/history.html
www.naturalistsalmanac.com/0801lugh.html
celticways.com/blog/2005/07/lughnasa.html
www.sacredgrove.com/1lughnasa_symbols.htm
www.templedarkmoon.com/lughnasa.htm
www.gaelsong.com/arc_Lughnasa2001.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lammas
www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/lammas.html
www.schooloftheseasons.com/lammas.html
www.mythinglinks.org/Lammas.html
www.cyberwitch.com/wychwood/Temple/lammas.htm
www.witchonthego.com/lammas.html
www.onlinepagans.com/pages/lammas.html
www.lammasfest.us/lammas.htm
www.tryskelion.com/lammas2.htm
www.tylwythteg.com/Lammas.html
www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/Lammas.html
www.twpt.com/lammas.htm