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Lammas (Lah-Mass) from the Saxon Loaf Mass, also known as Lughnasadh (Loo-Nas-Ah), Celtic feast of Lugh, (the Irish/Celtic
God of Fire) and Cornucopia (Stregeria, Italian) marks the beginning of the First Harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are
cut and stored for the forthcoming Winter months. This is a time of thanksgiving, a time when we should reap the rewards of
what we have sown and look to consolidate upon our position before the coming dark half of the year.
This, the First Harvest Festival, heralds the Sun God beginning to lose his virility, old age is fast approaching and tis
the beginning of decline for the God as he weakens along with the days that are also shortening. In some Ancient Traditions
this was the time when the Corn King was symbolically sacrificed, to ensure that by his being cut down (as the Corn and produce
of the fields was being cut) would feed his peoples by ensuring a good harvest. (The name Lughnasadh actually means the Funeral
Feast of Lugh!) Nowadays this may be symbolically done with the breaking of bread during Ritual.
Grain, being important to many religions of the world, is also important to us. It has always been a staple of life and honoured
as such. In our rituals when we have cakes and ale, the symbol of grain is always present in one form or another whether it
be a loaf, cookies or cake. You may like to bake a loaf in the shape of a man, symbolic of the God, and share the bread in
representation of the death of the Corn King, symbolically dying to feed his peoples (sounds very similar to another who died
for his followers, as always I'm reminded that All Gods are One God!)
In Celtic mythology there is a story of a young boy who accidentally drinks hazelnuts from the Magickal cauldron of the Welsh
Goddess Cerridwen. He shape-shifts into a hare. She shape-shifts into a greyhound and chases him. He then shape-shifts into
a grain of wheat, but Cerridwen then shape-shifts into a black hen. You know what comes next...she eats the grain of wheat
and gives birth to a baby boy, who becomes a great bard and seer poet, Taliesin. Cerridwen is the goddess of death, regeneration,
grain and poetic inspiration.
Lammas Incense Recipe
2 Parts Frankincense
1 part Heather
1 Part Apple Blossoms
1 pinch Blackberry leaves
few drops Ambergris oil Mix all ingredients thoroughly before burning upon a lit charcoal block in a fireproof container.
Suggested Lammas Altar Decorations
Some of the decor you would use on your altar could be sheaves of wheat, barley or oats, fruit and breads, anything representative
of the fruits of the harvest. You could make a loaf of bread in the shape of the sun or a man to represent the God. It is
also a common practice to make corn dollies representing the goddess. The Altar Cloth should be yellow, and candles yellow,
orange, brown or black
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Symbolism
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First Harvest Festival, Aging of the Deities.
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Symbols
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Corn Dollies, Cornucopia, Breads, fruits, grains, the Sun.
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Deities
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Lugh, Bel, Balinus, Any Gods in aged aspect, the Corn King, the Green Man coming towards his downfall. Mother / Crone aspects
of the Goddess as she moves towards her menopausal period.
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Traditional Foods
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Breads, Grains, Harvest Fruits.
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Herbs and Flowers
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Add your content here
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Incense
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Allspice, Carnation, Rosemary, Vanilla
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Sacred Gemstone
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Amethyst & Bloodstone
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Special Activities
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Baking Breads, berry picking, making jam, preparing foodstuffs for the coming winter.
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