By Kerrilyn Bachler-Connor

Lammas on August 1, (also known as Lughnasadh – named after the Celtic God Lugh), is the first of the three harvest festivals. This harvest celebrates the ripening of grains and corn.

At Lammas, the first grains are gathered, ground and baked into bread. The word “Lammas” comes from “loaf mass”. At this time of year, calves and lambs are weaned and some fruits, such as apples, pears, bilberries, blackberries and grapes are picked. The harvest aspect of Lammas makes this sabbat comparable to the modern day American Thanksgiving.

Lammas was a time for thanking the God and Goddess for the bounty of food from the Earth, much in the same way the Indians and Pilgrims gave thanks in their own feast. Lammas however focuses on harvesting certain foods, as do the other two harvest festivals Mabon and Samhain.

Lammas celebrations, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, generally took place either on the top of a hill or near a holy well. Games were played, contests held, a bull was sacrificed, and a great feast was held. This was also the time trial marriages began.

Some of the games and contests held included horseracing, horseshoes, arm wrestling, stick jumping, archery, Blindman’s Bluff, yard bowling, and tug-o-war.

Lammas is most likely responsible for what we know today as the county fair. These times were dedicated to entertainment, and were known to be social events where young people could meet new people for prospective partners.

Animal trading also took place, but this was not the main function of the celebration.

Lammas celebrations were also the time when the civil and criminal courts took place, contracts were agreed upon and

signed, rent payments were due, and other legal matters were attended to.

The spiritual side of Lammas celebrated the sacrifice of the God. He sacrifices himself, dying, so that we may live. When

the God is sacrificed at Lammas he takes on the form of John Barleycorn – the Corn Spirit or Corn Lord. The Gods are

thanked and the sacrifice of John Barleycorn is reenacted in ritual with the baking and eating of bread. A part of the first

loaf (or the entire first loaf) is offered to the God in thanks. Wine is used to represent the blood of the God.

Grain is one of the most important symbols of the nurturing Goddess. Grain was seen as the son of the Goddess, which

would then grow into the Corn Lord . The Corn Lord would wake in the spring (be planted and sprout), grow to maturity in

the summer and autumn and then die in the harvest. He sheds his seeds which will then be replanted. This symbolizes the

never ending cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth known as the Eternal Return.

Lammas is a time of sacrifice, harvest, redemption, renewal, death, mourning and protection.

The Romans celebrated this time as the Festival of Demeter and Persophone , and their reunion of this Grain Goddess

and her daughter.

Lughnasadh means “festival of Lugh” a Celtic God. Pronounced “Loo-na-sa”. The name Lugh means “light” or “shining”.

Lugh was one of the greatest leaders of the Tuatha de Dannan. He was the patron of arts, traveling, money and

commerce. Lugh is the son of Arianrhod who is associated with sacred kingship and Three-fold Death. His wife is

Blodeuwedd , also known as the Flower Maiden. According to Celtic legend, the Flower Maiden becomes the Harvest

Mother at Lammas. Lugh represents the sacrificed Corn God, and is the beginning of the end of Summer.

Nature Spirits

Dryads are the spirits of trees and groves and guardians of the forests from Greek mythology. Each is born to watch over a

certain tree. They are highly defensive of their trees, as if their tree dies so will they. They tend to be, uncomfortable with

humans, who bring fire and axe to endanger their woodlands. However some people, such as the Druids, have received

teachings in area such as tree magick and divination from them.

Colors

Gold represents the God, vitality, strength, success, action, courage, confidence, solar deities, wealth, employment,

masculinity, the sun, power, and daylight hours.

Yellow represents joy, vitality, intelligence, study (school begins soon!), persuasion, charm, creativity, communication,

mind power, the sun, psychic ability, attraction, examinations and tests.

Black is for divination, banishing, absorbing negative energies, protection, binding, limitations, loss, confusion, and defining

boundaries.

Brown is used for stability, justice, sensuality, endurance, animals, concentration, the Earth, grounding, neutrality, strength,

grace, decision making, pets and family issues.

Purple represents growth, self esteem, psychic ability, insight, inspiration, spirituality, success in business, power, mild

banishings, ambition, inner strength, and physical fitness.

Red symbolizes sexual love, lust, passion, fire, willpower, courage, energy, strength, anger, blood, life cycle, desire and

war.

Flowers

The Sunflower helps to fulfill wishes, and grant wisdom, good health and fertility.

Violets summon spiritual protection, luck, love, wishes, peace, sleep, and healing.

The Rose calls for love, beauty, luck, psychic powers, protection, and peace.

Scents

Frankincense is used for spirituality, protection, banishing of negative entities, consecration and meditation.

Heliotrope is used to obtain money and to gain power.

Lemon is used in raising energy, mental clarity and cleansing.

Lavender brings good health, peace, relaxation, sleep, purification and love.

Lily of the Valley aids in happiness, mental powers, matters of the conscious mind, peace and memory.

Stones

The Cat’s Eye offers a feeling of serene happiness. Cat’s Eye stimulates awareness and intuition, allowing the wearer to

gain insight and thus find balance in the evolutions and transformations that life brings

Carnelian embodies courage, verbal skills, peace, stops jealousy, stops apathy, stops fear and rage.

Jasper imparts healing, protection, health, beauty and energy.

Fire Agate summons courage, strength and to energy needed to fight fear.

Incense, Herbs, Trees and Woods

Frankincense: Represents spirituality, protection, banishing of negative entities, consecration and meditation.

Heather represents protection, rain making and luck.

Sandalwood represents protection, healing, spirituality, and exorcism.

Copal assures love and purification.

Sunflower grants fertility, wishes, health and wisdom.

Rye represents love and fidelity.

Oats represents money.

Corn is used for protection, luck and divination.

Yarrow is used for courage, love, psychic powers, and exorcism.

Dill is used for protection, obtaining money, lust and luck.

Wheat represents fertility and money.

Hazel is for luck, fertility, anti-lightning, protection and wishes.

Oak represents protection, health, money, healing, potency, fertility and luck.

Blackberries are used for healing, obtaining money and protection.

Animals and Birds

The Lion is the assertion of the feminine and the power of the female sun.

The Phoenix has the ability to find new impulses, strength, and growth – even in regards to death.

The Sphinx: represents wisdom and knowledge.

The Dragon is a creature of fire and Power.

The Crane signifies longevity and creation through focus.

The Falcon indicates astral traveling, healing, soul healing, the release of a soul for a dying.

The Eagle stands for the illumination of spirit, healing and creation.

Other Symbols

Sun Images represent the God and the sun at it’s fullest power.

This is the time of year when the production of honey by bees is at its peak and harvested fresh. Pure honey added to

summer drinks makes a delicious treat.

The Spear represents the Sun God and his glory.

The Cauldron represents the Goddess in her bounty.

Energy and Power Flows

Energy should be put into harvesting, and gathering the first of the crops including berries, wheat and other grains. This is

a time of celebrated appreciation, vitality, health and friendships. Power flows from growing to harvesting, collecting,

sorting, and preparing for the long winter ahead. Time should be spent preparing food for the winter by making jams,

preserves, breads, and freezing or canning the first foods from the first harvest.

Traditions

Lammas the first of the three harvest festivals, is a wonderful time of year. Grains, corn and a few other foods such as

apples, pears, bilberries, blackberries and grapes are gathered. The day – or week if you prefer – is spent baking breads

which can then be frozen for use in the winter months to come. Blackberries can be made into jam and canned or frozen to

go along with the bread.

There are many aspects to celebrating Lammas, from the baking of bread, to reenacting the sacrifice of John Barleycorn to

the colors, herbs and incense you use. Lammas marks the change from summer to fall, and many of the traditions and

correspondences associated with Lammas, show this change as well.

Here are suggestions for items and activities to include in your Lammas festival.

ACTIVITES

Hold a traditional outdoor Lammas feast complete with games and contests such as tug-o-war, horseshoes, arm wrestling,

stick jumping, and archery.

Perform a Lammas ritual reenacting the sacrificial death of John Barleycorn. Offer at least part of your first baked loaf of

Lammas bread to the God.

When holding a Lammas feast, plan to include as many of these Lammas related foods as possible: breads, potatoes,

oysters, salmon, and recipes made with apples.

Make corn doll charms

If you have a garden, work on your harvest and donate some food to those less fortunate such as to a charity that works

with the homeless or a food bank.

Harvest herbs.

Hold a bonfire built with sacred woods and dried herbs.

Include a processional to the bonfire pile and ritualize the lighting of the fire.

Dance by the light of the bonfire into the night.

Gather the tools you use to do your garden work and bless them.

Begin finishing up summer projects that need to be done before the weather changes.

Let the kids try this one: Take a walk and listen to the sounds of Autumn. Bring a small notebook and pencil and write

down everything that you hear. Really listen and appreciate what you are hearing. While on your walk, you can also use

your notebook to make bark rubbings of different types of trees, if you know what kind of tree it is, make sure you write that

down on your rubbing to keep track of them.

Take a nature walk and work on collecting items you can used for crafts, decorations or in your rituals, such as seeds,

nuts, leaves and other plant material.

Lammas is a time of giving thanks, and preparing for the transition into winter. As you celebrate your Lammas festival,

remember your ancestors who did not have it as easy as we do today. Remember that whatever food they could store,

was what they had to survive throughout the winter. There weren’t any local grocery stores to run out to when food got low.

When firewood ran out, the only warmth was from animal skins, or blankets weaved from the wool of sheep. Give thanks to

your ancestors for their sacrifices, and give thanks to the God for his.

What you need:

A large quantity of bunch up grain stalks

Twine

What you do:

Using the twine, tie tightly around the bundle of grain below the middle of the stalks. Bend the top over and bind again –

the binding should be a couple of inches down from the bend (depending on how long the grain is). The twine forms the

waist, below the twine is the skirt of the mother while above the twine is the torso. Tie off smaller bundles and stick into

each side above the waist line to form arms. Fan another bundle of grain to make the head and stick into the top of the

torso.

Bean and Seed Necklaces

What you need:

Needle

Strong thread

Dried beans

Dried Indian corn

What to do:

Strip the corn kernels off the corn cob.

Soak the beans and corn in water overnight to soften them up.

When the beans and corn are soft, thread the needle and begin stringing the corn and beans, making a pattern. Make it

about 2 feet – 30 inches long, let it dry overnight. The beans and corn will shrink a little bit, slide them together leaving no

spaces and tie the ends of the thread together to form a necklace.

Herbed Pillows

Lammas is a wonderful time of year. With the ripening of corn and grains, also comes the readiness for many herbs to be

picked. Natural fragrances fill the air. If you are lucky enough to have your own flower or herb garden, this project is all the

easier. However even if you don’t have supplies ready at hand, you can still create beautiful looking and smelling herb

pillows with herbs bought from the store (I recommend health food stores) or you may use herbal oil blends.

What you need:

Material of your choice in the size of your choice

Enough pillow stuffing to fill your pillow (we also save old socks for this and cut them into smaller pieces, this makes for a

heavier, more solid pillow.)

Dried herbs and flowers or herbal oils

Needle

Scissors and thread to match your material

I do not recommend using a sewing machine for this project simply because it takes away from the feel of “traditional”. Our

ancient ancestors didn’t have sewing machines, and my doing this project by hand you can do it outdoors in your favorite

location.

What to do:

To begin, cut one piece of fabric to twice the size you want your pillow to be. Fold the piece in half, with the right side of the

fabric facing together. This way you only have sewing to do on 3 sides. Begin sewing at one end of the crease and work

your way all around the fabric until you are about 2 inches from the other end of the crease. Tie off your thread very tightly.

Next you need to turn the pillow inside out, use a stick or spoon to push the corners all the way out.

Decide what mixture or herbs and/or oils you are going to use. (Do not mix oils in metal containers – make sure you use

something plastic) Tear the pillow stuffing into small pieces and mix with the herbs and/or oils.

Stuff the mixture into your pillow until full and then carefully sew the opening.

Suggestions of herbs and oils (and what they represent) to use in your pillows:

Amber: Stability, self confidence, and peace.

Bergamot: money, hex breaking, peace, happiness, and restful sleep.

Carnation: Protection, strength, healing, vitality, physical energy, love, health, and magickal energy.

Cedar: Healing, courage, purification, protection, money, hex breaking, spirituality and self control.

Chamomile: Sleep, meditation, money and peace.

Cinnamon: Love, success, power, psychic awareness, physical energy and prosperity.

Cloves: Money, love, exorcism, protection, courage, healing and memory,

Gardenia: Love, peace, healing and enhances spiritual connections.

Hyacinth: Love, protection, happiness, overcoming grief and peaceful sleep.

Jasmine: Love, money, sleep, dreams, peace and spirituality.

Lavender: Happiness, healing, peace, sleep, purification and love.

Lilac: Protection, beauty, love, help see past lives and purification.

Marjoram: Peace and sleep.

Mimosa: Psychic dreams and love.

Passion flower: Peace, friendship, popularity and sleep.

Poppy: Fertility, love, money, luck and sleep.

Rose: Love, beauty, luck, psychic powers, protection and peace.

Valerian: Love, sleep, purification, protection and peace.

Violet: Spiritual protection, lick, love, list, wishes, peace, sleep and healing.

Ylang-Ylang: Love and peace.

Maple and Oatmeal Soap

What you need:

You can either use a store bought bar of soap and cut it into small pieces, or look for a soap making kit. You can also take

small pieces of soap to combine them together to make one larger bar.

Oatmeal

Maple Syrup

A soap mold

What you do:

Put the soap into a microwavable safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted. Stir in ¼ cup

of oatmeal and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for each bar of soap you are making. Pour into soap molds and let cool.

Rosemary Candles

What you need:

Paraffin Wax

Wick

Candle mold

Old coffee can

Large pan

Fresh cut rosemary

What you do:

Cut the wick to the proper length for you candle mold and following candle mold instructions, insert it into mold.

Heat the paraffin wax in an old coffee can set in a pan of hot water.

Pour a small amount of melted wax into the candle mole and then add some rosemary, let cool slightly, continue adding

melted was and rosemary until the mold is filled. Let cool as per candle mold instructions.

Seed Ring

What you will need:

A large seed such as a peach pit

A block of wood wrapped in very rough sandpaper (the sand paper should be attached to the wood)

What you do:

Using the block of sand paper, start sanding the peach pit down at one of the pointed ends. Sand it down until you can see

the seed inside the pit. Remove the seed and sand a little more. Turn the seed over and start sanding on the other pointed

end, sanding away just as much of the pit on this side as you did on the other side. When you reach the same amount you

should have a nice ring. If needed, continue sanding equal amounts on both sides to make the ring thinner.

You may also use the ring as a pendant for a necklace.

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