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Lammas (Lughnasadh), August 1

Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, falls at the beginning of the harvest season. Apples are ready and grain is beginning to ripen. It's also a day for honoring Lugh, the Celtic craftsman god. Learn about traditions and rituals for celebrating this first of three Pagan harvest holidays.
Country Fairs and Harvest Celebrations
Around Lammas, country fairs and other early harvest celebrations became a popular custom. Find out how and why this late summer Sabbat was celebrated in rural areas.
Warrior Meditation for Lughnasadh
Want to get in touch with your inner warrior? This simple meditation allows you to focus on the deeds and words of past, present and future. Look at the journey you've taken so far to determine where you will go in the future.
When is Lammas/Lughnasadh 2009?
Lammas, or Lughnasadh, celebrates the early harvest. When does Lammas fall in 2009?
All About Lammas (Lughnasadh)
Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, falls at the beginning of the harvest season. Apples are ready and grain is beginning to ripen. It's also a day for honoring Lugh, the Celtic craftsman god. Learn about traditions and rituals for celebrating this early harvest holiday.
Lammas History: Welcoming the Harvest
Ever wonder why Lammas is such a big deal in some Pagan traditions? Learn about the history of Lammas and how harvest festivals have been documented back thousands of years. A time of grain and fruit, Lammas (also called Lughnasadh) is the first of three Pagan harvest celebrations. In some traditions, it's the day to honor Lugh, the Celtic craftsman god.
Setting Up Your Lammas (Lughnasadh) Altar
August 1 is known as Lammas, or Lughnasadh (it's February 1, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere). This is a day to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest, when the grain and corn is gathered. It's also a time, in some traditions, of honoring Lugh, the Celtic craftsman god. Here are some ideas for dressing up your altar for your Lammas (Lughnasadh) celebration!
Lammas Altar Gallery
Lammas/Lughnasadh is a celebration of the early grain harvest, and we love it when readers share their altar decorations with us! Check out this image gallery to see how other Pagans and Wiccans set up their altar for Lammas.
Hold a Lammas Harvest Ritual
Lammas is the first of three harvest Sabbats, and celebrates the crops of late summer and early autumn. If you wish to honor the Harvest Mother aspect of the Goddess and celebrate the cycle of life and rebirth, hold this Lammas rite either with a group or as a solitary practitioner.
Hold a Lammas Bread Sacrifice Ritual
Lammas is a time of celebrating the beginning of the harvest, a theme seen often in the sacrifice of the grain god. Make a sacrifice of your own this Lammas, with this bread ritual that celebrates the beginning of the harvest.
Honoring Lugh of the Many Skills
August 1 is known in many Pagan traditions as Lammas, and is a celebration of the early harvest. However, in some paths, it's a day to honor Lugh, the Celtic god of craftsmanship. Celebrate your own talents and skills on Lughnasadh by honoring Lugh with a rite that can be held for a group or a solitary practitioner.
Ash Tree Magic and Folklore
The ash tree has been known for its magical properties for thousands of years. Learn about some of the magical potential that this forest giant can have.
Protection Magic
In many magical traditions, simple workings are done for protection of mind and body. Particularly in folk magic, it was known that a number of workings could be done to keep one's home and property safe.
Deities of the Fields
In nearly every ancient culture, Lammas was a time of celebration of the agricultural significance of the season. Because of this, it was also a time when many gods and goddesses were honored. Meet some of the many deities who are connected with the early harvest season.
Legends and Lore of Lammas (Lughnasadh)
There are a lot of myths and folklore surrounding Lammas, or Lughnasadh. Learn about some of the stories about this magical harvest Sabbat!
Spirit of the Grain - Honoring the Soul of the Harvest
The idea of honoring a "corn mother" at Lammas time is hardly a European invention. Cultures around the world have long celebrated the spirit embodied in the harvested crops each autumn.
The Legend of John Barleycorn
A traditional English harvest legend is the story of John Barleycorn, whose tale is a metaphor for the cycle of grain, and includes birth, suffering, death and eventual rebirth.
The Final Sheaf
In many countries, the harvesting of the final sheaf of grain was cause for celebration. Find out why this Lughnasadh tradition was so special in the countries of the British Isles.
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