CELEBRATING FIRST HARVEST - LUGHNASADH

Lughnasadh (loo-na-sah) is the first of 3 harvest festivals. Derived from an old Irish word Lunasa (meaning August), it honors the old sun god Lugh (Loo), but for all intents and purposes it is primarily a grain festival, often called the Sabbat of First Fruits.

Most of the ritualistic celebration and symbolism used by today’s pagans was given to us primarily by Irish Tradition. But let’s not forget, across the world there were other celebrations taking place. Native Americans celebrated in early August in honor of the Corn Grandmother, which is called the festival of the green corn. Ancient Romans honored Ceres, who was their grain goddess. In ancient Phoenicia, this Sabbat honored the grain god Dagon and a great amount of the harvest was sacrificed to him.

There are other names for Lughnasadh, such as First Harvest, August Eve, Lammas (which translated means “loaf-mass�? which is the most commonly used name. Perhaps because so many seem to mis-pronounce Lughnasadh. (grins)

The Irish Sun God, Lugh (translated literally means “the shining one�? was a god of many talents and skills and was in fact said to be able to transform to human so as to worship with the druids. Lugh was, in fact, considered the primary deity of the druids. Lugh was god of the harvests, fire, light, metallurgy and the protector of the weak and ill. He was also King of the Tuatha De Danann, a mythical race of early Celts and the consort of Dana, the first great Mother Goddess of Ireland, so is it any wonder that Lughnasadh would be focused on him?

Since Lughnasadh is the first of 3 harvest festivals, it was often celebrated as one of fertility. While it is true that certain crops were being harvested, part of that harvest was thrown back into the fields to insure that autumn crops would thrive. Certain groups and covens would perform the great rite on this day, preferably in a fertile field. Corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and summer squash are all used in magickal spells for fertility.

The celebration of Lughnasadh is one of the largest of any of the Sabbats. All of the first fruits of the season are consumed, especially any/all grains that have been harvested. Often the feast would be consumed inside circle with generous libations being made to the deities.

Corn or maize as it was called by our Native American ancestors, is the most well known and celebrated of the crops, and is a major entity for solar festivals, particularly in North America and Europe since the 1600’s. However, the Native Americans revered maize long before that. Corn is known to have been cultivated as early as 7,000 years ago in Mexico and the S. Western U.S.

It is common practice among Celtic and English witches to hold back a small portion of the corn harvest to make the Imbolc (Imbolg) corn dolly. Each year a new corn dolly is made to replace the one from the previous year. Make sure to take the old dolly from the place where it has been blessing your home and bring it into circle or on your altar.
For many, Lughnasadh is a time for counting one’s blessings while gathered in circle. A loaf of bread is passed clockwise while coven members break off a portion to be consumed after they announce all the things they’re thankful for.

A perfect pastime for Pagans (and ok, non pagans too) is star gazing. August is the perfect month, since it is renowned for meteor showers, and shooting stars. It’s a wonderful way in which to connect with god/dess and our place in the universe. Let’s not forget that wee bit of folklore that if we wish upon a shooting star, our wishes will come true.

While it’s still warm, it’s a great time to give something back to Mother Earth. How about getting involved in “Adopt A Highway�?where you clean up a portion of the roadway of debris and litter. The same holds true if you live near the ocean or beach…you, or you and your group can plan a day of picking up litter and making the Mother shiny and clean. This is an excellent way in which we pagans can “practice what we preach�?with regards to the environment.

However you decide to spend Lughnasadh, be sure to include eating some yummy fruits and veggies from the bounty of the Mother and don’t forget to give thanks for all that you’ve been given this year, as we move to the end of summer and the second harvest festival of Mabon.

Until next time, Blessed Be.
White Willow

http://www.alternativefaith.com/celebrating-first-harvest-lughnasadh/
http://www.alternativefaith.com/celebrating-first-harvest-lughnasadh/