Make your ancient holiday of Lammas magical with one or more of these fun little ideas.
In the Northern Hemisphere, August 1st is the pagan holiday of Lughnasadh, pronounced loo-nah-sa and also known as Lammas.
The first of three harvest festivals (the others being Mabon and Samhain), today we pause to celebrate our first fruits and first grains: all that we’ve brought forth and accomplished thus far in this yearly cycle.
While the later harvest festivals are moving toward fall, we are still in the full vibrance of summer. In many parts of the world, the meadows and grain fields are still green, and the fruit is still ripening on the trees and vines.
Lughnasadh is a time to honor and magnetize abundance: the full flowering of summer brings us food and other blessings as the wheel moves ever closer to the harvest’s full fruition.
Even celebrating this holiday in a small way can align you with the natural world and open you up to all the beauty and blessings this life has to offer. With this in mind, here are five little ritual ideas for your personal Lughnasadh celebration.
(You may also like to check out these 3 Lughnasadh Rituals to Heal Your Relationship with Food.)
1. Listen to the Song “Summertime” While Drinking a Cocktail
If ever a song captured the essence of Lughnasadh, it’s George Gershwin’s masterpiece: Summertime. (Summertime and the livin’s easy/fish are jumpin/and the cotton is high.) Find a version you like. Then make your favorite summery cocktail. Finally, relax, listen, and expand into the energy of the holiday. (I like this one by Janis Joplin and this one by Billy Stewart.)
2. Bake Something and Eat It
The alternate name for this holiday, Lammas, is derived from “Loaf Mass,” when the first grains of the season were honored and baked into bread. Bake something yummy and send good vibes into it as you do. Then eat (and possibly share) with a feeling of gratitude for all that you’ve accomplished, all that you have, and all the beautiful blessings of the earth.
3. Offer Grain to the Earth
Traditionally, a way of expressing gratitude for the abundant bounty of Mother Earth at Lughnasadh is to offer the first of the crop right back to Her. In turn, this multiplies your own wealth and ensures a successful harvest, as what you send out comes back to you multiplied. And everything is energy, remember! So right along with the bowl of barley or oats, offer a generous helping of love and appreciation.
4. Make a Local Fruit Salad
Lughnasadh is a festival of first fruits. So go to your local farmer’s market and select some super ripe, super fresh, local fruit. Light a candle as you assemble it into a salad, and then – with gratitude – enjoy (and possibly share).
5. Light a Green Candle
Finally, simply lighting a green candle on your altar or another prominent place in your home can be a beautiful way to align with the Lughnasadh season. As you do, take a moment to connect with the expansion and abundance of the earth at this particular moment, and give thanks for all the blessings you already have: the money in your bank account, your home, your loved ones, your personal successes, and anything else that comes to mind.
Abundant blessings of wealth and vitality to you on Lughnasadh, and every day!
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im at a boarding school where candles and baking arent allowed. any advice?
Sure! Bless a muffin or an oatmeal cookie in sunlight and eat it mindfully while giving thanks for the blessings and bounty of the earth.
As this is a celebration of gratitude for the gifts of the earth, ask the kitchen for some grain or oats, perhaps a piece of fruit or if nothing else, a piece of toast. Take a bit, and then offer the rest back to the earth & the birds , insects , etc.
In the old world , colored candles were not available . This is very modern.
It is more about reverence and “ prayer” than the actual candle.
If your school has trees and grass, find a beautiful spot,sit down with your shoes off, and say “ Thank you “.
If there are grasses or flowers you can take back to your room for a small alter on your desk or dresser. Perhaps even look at beautiful photos of natural gardens and imagine that you are there.
Be creative , and come from the heart.
You’ll still be in tune with all the others celebrating .
I went to a boarding school, so I know the limitations .
You see, there really aren’t any limitations as you can do all these things in your imagination .
Just imagine the beauty of abundace and give thanx.
How about a picnic with a friend or two ?
Enjoy ! Many Blessings ✨✨✨
Thanks! I wear the Celtic Wheel of Time as a necklace and I have never gotten around to celebrating Lugh and Lammas.
Also, Ella Fitzgerald’s “Summertime” is the one I love and used to sing to my daughter when she was a baby ;D so can’t wait to hear it again for this purpose.
Oh, cool on both counts! So glad you’ll be observing this year. Brightest blessings.
Thank you Tess! I love Sam Cooke version of Summertime, it makes me feel sweaty when I listen to it! I’ll follow your advise, blessings!
Blessings to you too, Raquel! And happy summertime.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this post. It brings Lammas slap bang into the world where we may not be able, or even want, to celebrate it in the more traditional communal ways. I love your little rituals and plan to fit each one into Lammas chez Fay x
Thank you Fay! Awesome. Have a beautiful holiday.