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.

The Thirteen Full Moons of the Year

The Thirteen Full Moons of the Year

The pagan practices bases its festivities not only on the sabbatical wheel of the year, but also in the thirteen full moons that occur throughout the year.

January - Wolf's Moon

With the deep snow of winter, hungry packs howled near the villages, this is why the full moon this month was known by this name. It was also known by the moon after Yule. We can associate these wolves with the  furious horde of wolves that came with the god of the wild hunt.

February - Snow's Moon

Usually the heaviest snow fell in February and hence its name, but it was also referred to as "full moon of hunger." So at this time comes the first festival of light of the year in the  Pagan Calendar , Imbolc.

March - Raven's Moon

The Ravens announced the departure of winter, which was at the beginning of the thaw, this was the reason that it was also entitled as the full moon's crust, as the snow thawed during the day and returned to form a crystalline crust overnight. Celebrating the arrival of spring in its equinox, Ostara.

April - The Moon of the Rose

This full Moon  owes its name to the pink colored-moss, one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, but the April moon was recognized as the frog's moon or planter's moon.

May - The Moon of Flowering

Because May is the month that begins with Bealtaine and because the flowers reach their maximum brightness, color and fragrance this time of the year, this full moon is well known by this, or as the full moon flowers.

June - Moon of strawberries

It has this name because it is the season where people wanted to reap the fruits, in Europe it is known as the moon rose, since the roses reach their maximum splendor in this month. Litha is celebrated, or summer solstice.

July - The Thunder Moon

July brings heat and thunderstorms, showers and heat, being one of the months that have more climatic variations. However, this full moon is also nicknamed the blood moon because of the sacrificial rites that took place at this stage of the year.

August - The Red Moon

At the peak of harvest, the full moon appears in the sky with red tones, reflecting the light of the indomitable August sun. Reminds us of the sacrificial rites of the oak god in  Lughnasadh.

September - The Harvest Moon

In the month of threshing corn and early harvest, this is the most appropriate name to the full moon of September. Mabon is celebrated and all the good things that the  land gave us.

October - The Moon of the hunt

Since the peak period of harvest, and since the light of the sun was maintained to a late time, people began hunting in the woods. On the last day of the month it is celebrated Samhain, the beginning of the pagan year, announcing the wild chase of  Winter.

November - The moon of the Pig

It was in this month of the year, when people killed the pigs and began to to replenish the flue as a way of ensuring subistencia in winter.

December - The Icy Moon

Also known as the long night moon, is closely linked to the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Yule is celebrated and the full moon was also known as the Oak Moon.


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