Lughnasadh / Lammas

August 1st

The First Harvest & Celebration of Skill, Sacrifice, and Gratitude

The Basics

Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nah-sah), also known as Lammas, is celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere (or February 1st in the Southern Hemisphere). It is the first of the three harvest festivals, followed by Mabon (Autumn Equinox) and Samhain.

This Sabbat honors the ripening of grain and the fruits of the first harvest. It is a time of gratitude, community, and recognition of the cycle of life and sacrifice. Just as the grain is cut down so that people may live, we are reminded that all abundance requires transformation and surrender. Lughnasadh also honors skill, craftsmanship, and the fruits of human labor as much as the gifts of the earth.

History & Origins

Celtic Tradition

Lughnasadh is named after the god Lugh, a deity of light, skill, and artistry. Myth tells that he established the festival to honor his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died after clearing the land for agriculture. Games, feasts, and competitions were held in her memory.

Lammas

The Anglo-Saxon word hlaf-mas means “loaf-mass.” On this day, the first loaves of bread were baked from the newly harvested grain and offered to deities in thanks.

Community Gatherings

Historically, Lughnasadh was a time for markets, trial marriages, athletic contests, and settling disputes — a blend of sacred and social functions.

Themes & Symbolism

Harvest, Abundance, and Gratitude

Sacrifice & Transformation

Skill, Craftsmanship, and Creativity

Community & Sharing

Symbols

Sheaves of wheat, corn, and grain

Bread loaves (especially the first baked from the new harvest)

Sun wheels and sickles

Corn dollies (crafted from the last sheaf of grain)

Fields, barns, and baskets of abundance

The god Lugh (light, skill, craftsmanship)

Colors

Gold – ripened grain, the Sun’s strength

Yellow – abundance, vitality, blessings

Green – growth, fields, fertility

Orange – warmth, harvest fire, transformation

Brown – stability, the earth, groundedness

Foods

Freshly baked breads, rolls, and oatcakes

Corn, wheat, barley, and other grains

Berries (especially bilberries, blackberries, and raspberries)

Apples, pears, and seasonal fruits

Honey and mead

Roasted vegetables and hearty harvest meals

Celebration Practices

Bread & Grain Offerings

Bake bread, rolls, or cakes with intention, offering the first piece to the earth or your altar.

Bless your bread as a symbol of life’s sustenance.

Feasting & Community

Share meals with friends or family, emphasizing gratitude for the earth’s abundance.

Create a harvest altar with breads, grains, and seasonal fruits.

Honoring Skill & Craft

Dedicate time to your craft — whether writing, cooking, painting, or building.

Offer your skills as gifts to others, echoing Lugh’s mastery of many arts.

Ritual of Gratitude & Release

Write down what you are thankful for and what you are ready to release.

Burn or bury the paper in symbolic offering, honoring the cycle of sacrifice and renewal.

Games & Celebration

Recreate the festive spirit with games, competitions, or storytelling.

Try simple “skill contests” among friends (archery, races, or crafts) to honor Lugh.

Modern Ideas for Celebrating Lughnasadh

Decorate your altar with wheat stalks, baskets of fruit, and golden candles.

Make a corn dolly to honor the grain spirit and keep it through the season.

Go berry-picking or bake seasonal pies and breads.

Donate food or resources to your community, sharing your abundance.

Journal on the “harvest” in your life: what has ripened, and what must be released.

Closing Thought

Lughnasadh is a celebration of gratitude, sacrifice, and skill — a reminder that abundance comes through both labor and surrender. It invites us to honor the fruits of our work, share our blessings with others, and recognize the beauty of cycles: growth, harvest, and transformation.