Today is Lughnasadh, the first of three Celtic festivals (along with Mabon and Samhain), that celebrate the harvest season. Lughnasadh occurs on August 1st, halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox, celebrates the start of the harvest season, and is named after the Celtic sun god, Lugh, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Often portrayed as a warrior and a king, Lugh is also the god of craftsmanship, associated with skill and mastery in many disciplines, and is the divine father of Cú Chulainn, the greatest hero of Irish legend.
Harvesting of crops is an important annual event in all agricultural calendars. This was especially so in the past when harvesting, done by hand, was a race against the weather, time, and nature. When summer is at its peak and the first berries start to ripen, it’s time to harvest. Saving crops for winter was important for survival and there are many beliefs, customs, and rituals linked to the harvest time.
Ireland has its own unique old harvest customs that represent prosperity and abundance of blessings. The connection to agriculture and nature led to similar harvest traditions on all parts of the island, regardless of religion. Harvesting officially began at Lughnasadh and harvest rituals were observed in August and September.
Ancient communities marked the festival by gathering grains from the first harvest of the growing season. Wheat, barley, oats, and corn were vital for surviving the long cold winters of the Northern Hemisphere. On August 1st, grain was harvested in the dawn hours and baked into loaves of bread to be shared by the community. Modern day agricultural fairs continue some of the traditions of Lughnasadh, such as Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co. Kerry.
Lughnasadh is associated with symbols of mid and late summer including sunflowers, sheaves of grain, and harvest tools such as scythes. Associated colours are drawn largely from nature, and include bold shades of yellow, bright greens, and orange. Stones associated with Lughnasadh include citrine, peridot (the birthstone for August), carnelian, gold topaz, clear quartz, and amber. Lúnasa is the Irish word for the month of August.
Some traditions associated with Lughnasadh include:
First fruits offering: It is common for people to offer the first harvested crops to the gods as a sign of gratitude and to seek blessings for a bountiful harvest season.
Bonfires are an essential part of the festivities. People gather around the fire, often on hilltops or sacred sites, and participate in various rituals, games, and activities to mark the occasion.
Feasting: A grand feast is often prepared to celebrate the abundance of the harvest. Foods made from the freshly harvested crops, such as bread, corn, berries, and fruits, are featured in the feast.
Handfasting and weddings: Lughnasadh is considered an auspicious time for weddings and handfasting ceremonies, a temporary form of marriage that lasted a year and a day.
Crafting and art: Artisans and craftsmen often showcase their skills during Lughnasadh, displaying their handcrafted goods at fairs and markets.
Gratitude and reflection: Lughnasadh is a time for expressing gratitude for the harvest and reflecting on the cycle of life, death, and rebirth as symbolized by the crops.
During the early Middle Ages, as the influence of the Christian church spread, the ancient celebration of Lughnasadh and the first grain harvest were combined with Christianity. Early Christians took the first loaf of bread from the harvest to the local church to be blessed by a priest and referred to the festival as Lammas or “loaf mass”. It was a Lughnasadh tradition to get as close to the sun as possible to make offerings to Lugh, the Celtic sun god, so the custom of climbing hills and mountains has become a Christian pilgrimage in many areas. The best known in Ireland is the pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick on the last Sunday in July, known as Reek Sunday.
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