Lughnasadh / Lammas - 1st of August

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is the gaelic/irish term which means, the commemoration or festival to the god Lugh, but also a festival of the August month. In Scotland, the term for this festivity, is also called Lammas.

This is the time for the first harvest, a season which was celebrated all around the world by this time in the Northern Hemisphere.

Like candlemas, this is also a festivity of the sun and of the light, to celebrate the warm weather that helps in the agricultural works, and because the light of the sun gives happiness and joy after the cold days of winter time.

At the first days of February, the first seeds are thrown into the fertile soils, and in August when the first harvest comes, the wheat reflects the bright golden colors of the sun. So Lughnasadh as the name indicates, was also a festival to the god Lugh, the god of Light and of fire in the Celtic pantheon. In ancient Lusitania and to the other Celtic tribes in the Iberian Peninsula, this god was known as Lugus, the god of music, metallurgy, poetry, dance, etc.

The next harvest comes at the end of October with the festivity of Samhain.

For the ancient pagan tribes of the European people, harvesting was the main source of food production, so it was important to succeed when it comes to planting and harvesting, in the end, the effort and hard work would bear its "fruit", and the family and tribe could live and survive for another year, another winter, with health, joy, and above all else, knowing that their hard work helped so many, all the efforts paied off. So this is also a time to celebrate with the family and the importance each member has in keeping all safe and sound.

For my next post, that will go to the Northern pagan traditions lable, i will talk about the same festiviry, but in the northern countries of  Europe, Freyfaxi and the story behind it.