Celebrate Lammas or Lughnasadh, the First Harvest Feast of the Year

The Earth is my Mother, she takes care of me
She guides me through a beautiful garden
And shades me while I rest
She gives me clearwater to drink
And sweet fruits to eat

The Earth always welcomes me
To sit in her house
And eat at her table
She makes me feel at home
Keeps me safe and surrounds me with love.

~Adapted from Psalm 23

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Also known as Lammas, Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the pagan Wheel of the Year.  Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1, which is in the sign of Leo, when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo. Named for the Celtic god Lugh (Lew in Welsh), this traditional feast day falls halfway between the summer solstice (Litha) and the fall equinox (Mabon).

Ancient communities marked the first harvest of the season with gathering of grains and baking bread.  Because of this, early Christians referred to Lughnasadh as Lammas “loaf mass” and Lammastide is sometimes used in place of Lughnasadh.

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Here are a few ways to celebrate Lamas:

Bake bread from scratch and incorporate seasonal herbs from your garden (or supermarket).
Make fruit preserves, or enjoy fresh grapes, blackberries, pears, raspberries, or other fruits in season locally.
Make beer or enjoy an artisan beer ( beer was very important in ancient times - in part because it was a safer to drink than water).
Host a family and friends dinner.
Make corn dollies.
Decorate your altar with a bouquet of sunflowers.

~adapted from MabonHouse.co