a few thoughts about Lughnasadh

  What a beautiful day!

 Today celebrate the "first harvest"!  When our ancestors harvested the first grain of the year.  Made the first truly fresh bread of the year, they celebrated with friends and kin, sharing a meal often including fresh bread made from the grain harvested in this "first harvest."

Lammas and  Lughnasadh  are both celebrated on August 1st.  Lammas is Anglo-Saxon in origin and focuses on the first harvesting of wheat and the baking of bread made from it.

 

 Lughnasadh is Celtic in origin, and draws it's name from the god Lugh.  The Celts  emphasizes a broader  celebration by including celebration of  the abundance of the earth. 

 Lugh is the master of skills, practical every day skills,like farming. skills in battle, strategy and combat, and skill  in arts, crafts, games and strength. 

Lugh was also the Master of ingenuity,which was essential to survial.

 We in our modern world are used to fresh foods, including fresh bread.  But, in those times grain was stored in vessels of were made  from anything from animal hides to hollowed out tree trunks, Ingenuity was the key to survival.

 Grains do loose their flavor, and/or turn rancid with time, even with out modern storage methods and i feel sure they had that problem despite their best efforts.  

~~~ There was no credit given for this recipe, i tried it we liked it.

"first harvest' begins

we have waited for this day 

 OH! smell our fresh bread

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wishing my readers a bounty of blessings 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

First Harvest, Lammas, Lughnasadh, with guest Blogger Patti Wigington

 

 

Lammas blessings and abundance on the is "First Harvest".  We are just starting to enjoy the first harvest from our garden.    Can scarcely imagine How good garden veg tasted to our ancestors.  Yes there were many foods to forage for, but still.

Celebrating the Pagan Lammas Sabbat

Patti Wigington

5–6 minutes

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All About Lammas (Lughnasadh)

These are the dog days of summer, the gardens are full of goodies, the fields are full of grain, and the harvest is approaching. Take a moment to relax in the heat, and reflect on the upcoming abundance of the fall months. At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months, and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end. 

Rituals and Ceremonies

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Lammas, but typically the focus is on either the early harvest aspect or the celebration of the Celtic god Lugh. It's the season when the first grains are ready to be harvested and threshed, when the apples and grapes are ripe for the plucking, and we're grateful for the food we have on our tables.

Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

• Lammas Harvest Ritual: This ritual celebrates the beginning of the harvest season and the cycle of rebirth, and can be done by a solitary practitioner or adapted for a group or coven setting. 
• Honor Lugh of the Many Skills: Take the opportunity this day to celebrate your own skills and abilities, and make an offering to Lugh to honor him, the god of craftsmanship.
• Lammas Prayers: Use these simple seasonal prayers to celebrate Lammas, the early grain harvest.
• Decorating Your Altar: Set up your altar for Lammas/Lughnasadh, using colors and symbols of the season.

Lammas Magic

Lammas is a time of excitement and magic. The natural world is thriving around us, and yet the knowledge that everything will soon die looms in the background. This is a good time to work some magic around the hearth and home.

• Ash Tree Magic and Folklore: Because of its close association not only with the Divine but with knowledge, Ash can be worked with for any number of spells, rituals, and other workings.
• Bread Magic: Let’s look at some of the magical folklore surrounding bread in different cultures and societies.
• The Magic of Corn: Corn has been planted, tended, harvested and consumed for millennia, and so it’s no wonder that there are myths about the magical properties of this grain. 
• Protection Magic: In many magical traditions, workings can be done to ensure protection of home, property, and people. There are a number of simple ways you can do protection workings.
• Sunflower Magic: Let’s look at some of the superstitions and customs about sunflowers from various cultures and societies.
• Honey Magic and Folklore: Honey has a number of magical properties - let's explore some of the ways you can use it!

Lammas Customs and Traditionsg

The early harvest and the threshing of grain has been celebrated for thousands of years. Here are just a few of the customs and legends surrounding the Lammas season.

• Lammas (Lughnasadh) History: This holiday can be celebrated either as a way to honor the god Lugh, or as a celebration of the harvest.
• Legends and Lore of Lammas (Lughnasadh): Here are a few of the stories about this magical harvest celebration from around the world.
• Lugh, Master of Skills: Lugh is the Celtic craftsman god associated with this time of year.
• Deities of the Fields: In addition to Lugh, there are many other deities connected to the early grain harvest.
• The Legend of John Barleycorn: In English folklore, John Barleycorn is a character who representthe crop of barley harvested each autumn.
• The Vulcanalia, August 23: Because Vulcan was associated with the destructive powers of fire, his celebration fell each year during the heat of the summer months.

Crafts and Creations

As summer winds to a close and autumn approaches, make crafts and decorations for your home that celebrate the outdoors and the gifts of nature. Before you get started, though, read up on these Five Quick Decorating Ideas for Lammas!

Feasting and Food

Nothing says "Pagan celebration" like a potluck! Lammas, or Lughnasadh, is the time of year when the gardens are in full bloom. From root vegetables to fresh herbs, so much of what you need is right there in your own back yard or at the local farmer's market. Let's take advantage of the gifts of the garden, and cook up a feast to celebrate the first harvest at Lammas—and if you can't eat bread because of gluten, be sure to read up on Celebrating Lammas When You Eat Gluten-Free.