August 1-2 is a traditional Pagan holiday, variously called Lammas or Lughnassadh. ”Lammas” derives from Anglo-Saxon hlaf-maesse (”loaf-mass”) and indeed, this holiday is often celebrated as a festival of bread, beer, and other mysteries of the grain. ”Lughnassadh” means “the commemoration of Lugh” and appears in variant spellings across the Celtic languages. Other names include Elembiuos, Cornucopia (Strega), and Thingtide (Teutonic). This is the first of three harvest festivals (the others being Mabon and Samhain) as the summer vegetables peak and grain approaches ripeness.
Plan ahead for Lammas by exploring the various themes associated with it, which can suggest ideas for your ritual and related activities. Good books include Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest
The Green Harvest
Summer fruits and vegetables have reached their peak: tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, blackberries, peaches, etc. In some areas, early grain is ready but in most places it’s in the precarious “almost ripe” stage. Featured deities include the Green Man, the Earth Mother, and other vegetative figures.
Bedeck the altar with fruits and vegetables. Elsewhere use food colors such as leaf green, corn yellow, tomato red, and berry purple. Celebrate the beginning of harvest with cooking and feasting.
The Death of the Corn King
In areas where grain is ripe, celebrations often feature the death of the Corn King. He is the god of grain who dies and is reborn. His story is retold in folk songs such as “John Barleycorn.”
Decorate the altar with corn shucks, ears of corn, or “corn dollies” of braided wheat. Main colors are yellow and brown. Rituals typically enact the death of the Corn King and/or his journey to the Underworld. The Dark Goddess may also appear. These may be mournful or merry; if mournful, they give attendees a chance to contemplate their own relationship with Death.
Mysteries of the Grain
Long ago, our ancestors discovered how to turn ordinary grain into bread and beer. This required balancing earth (grain), air (bubbles), fire (baking dough or warming starter), water, and spirit (yeast) — truly a magical accomplishment! Many myths tell of how humans and/or gods discovered the mysteries of making bread and beer.
Decorate the altar with loaves of bread and bottles of beer. Elsewhere add corn tipis, wheat sheaves, scythes and sickles, etc. Colors are yellow, amber, and gold; sometimes also brown, tan, or white. Hold workshops for baking bread or home brewing.
The Games of Lugh
Lugh is the god of skills and the ultimate jack-of-all trades. Once he came to a gate where the gatekeeper demanded a useful skill in order to pass. Lugh listed his many skill, but they already had someone who could do each of them. Finally he said, “Well, do you have a fellow who can do EVERYTHING?” They didn’t, so he got it. In honor of Lugh’s versatility, his festival features many games and competitions.
Decorate with ribbons, seasonal bouquets, and other flamboyant stuff. Lugh’s colors are gold and bronze. Honor him with games, competitions, workshops, presentations, and other fun or educational activities. Any of his myths can inspire a ritual; also “Lugh at the Gate” makes a hilarious skit in the right hands.
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