Dear All,
On the night of August 1st to 2nd, the Wheel of the Year turns from Litha to Lughnasadh or also called Lammas. We celebrate the beginning of Autumn and the celebration of the first harvest of the year, which consists of grain and fruit. Hence, Lughnasadh is also called Grain Festival. Lammas is the Saxon name of the feast and literally means bread mass. Here we find the reference back to the grain festival and the celebration of the grain, the main ingredient of our daily bread. Even today it is good to reflect on and be grateful for the abundance of grain. It is one of the most important food sources for humans worldwide. Lughnasadh is the older, Celtic name for the festival, meaning celebration of Lugh, the Celtic Sun God, also known as the God of Great Ability.
Lughnasadh, the period or celebration of Lugh, refers to the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. The power of the Sun is waning and its energy has been transferred to the wheat that has matured. The first harvest festival is the end of the ‘Summer Vacation’, the Summer’s Rest, and heralds the beginning of a time of hard work. It used to be the time when the warriors came back to help on the land. Over the next two or three months, our ancestors prepared for the coming Winter.
Working hard together on the land to bring in the harvests on time, fraternized and created the need to celebrate work done together. The celebration of Lughnasadh included horse racing, athletic contests or games, reciting of poems, musical performances, Hand Fasting and a large exhibition of arts and crafts. Here lies the origin of the Autumn Fairs that are held all over the country from August.
I am wishing you a wonderful and abudant Lughnasadh♥
With love,
Elke )O( The Alder Scrolls /|\
The Alder Scrolls 