Lughnasa
August Festival 

A Corn Doll

Lughnasa, also known as Lammas, is an ancient Pagan festival that is traditionally celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time of harvest, when the first fruits of the season are gathered and stored for the coming winter. The festival is named after Lugh, the Irish sun god, who was said to have held a great harvest fair in honor of his mother Tailtiu.

According to myth and legend, Tailtiu was an Earth goddess who cleared the land and prepared it for planting, thus bringing fertility and abundance to the land. She died from exhaustion after completing this task, and Lugh established the festival of Lughnasa to honor her sacrifice and celebrate the bounty of the harvest.

In modern Pagan traditions, Lughnasa is celebrated in a variety of ways, depending on the specific practices and beliefs of the individual or group. Some common elements of Lughnasa celebrations include feasting, dancing, and honoring the cycles of nature.

One traditional way to celebrate Lughnasa is to create a corn doll or harvest figure to represent the spirit of the harvest. This figure is often made from the first sheaf of wheat or other grains that are harvested, and is dressed in colorful clothing and decorated with flowers, ribbons, and other symbols of the season.

Lughnasa can be honoured in ritual:

• Creating an altar with symbols and offerings that represent the harvest and abundance, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables.

• Lighting a bonfire or candles to honor the sun and the fire element.

• Offering libations to the spirits of the land and ancestors, thanking them for the bounty of the harvest.

• Sharing a communal meal with friends and family, featuring foods that are in season and locally sourced.

• Participating in activities that celebrate the abundance of the harvest, such as baking bread or making corn dolls.

• Creating and hanging a corn dolly or other harvest decorations in your home or on your altar.

• Performing divination or meditation to connect with the energy of the season and receive guidance for the coming months.

• Spending time in nature, walking or hiking through fields and forests to connect with the land and the changing of the seasons.

• Engaging in acts of service or charity, such as donating food or volunteering at a local food bank, to honor the spirit of generosity and giving that is often associated with Lughnasa.

Another common tradition is to hold a harvest feast, featuring the fruits and vegetables that have been gathered from the fields. This feast may also include bread, made from the first grains of the season, as well as mead or other fermented beverages.

In addition to these traditions, many Pagans use the energy of Lughnasa to focus on their own personal growth and transformation. This can be a time to reflect on the past year, set new goals, and work on developing new skills or projects.

Overall, Lughnasa is a time to celebrate the abundance and generosity of the Earth, and to honor the cycles of life, death, and rebirth that are at the heart of all living things. By connecting with the energy of this ancient and powerful festival, we can tap into the magic and mystery of the natural world, and find inspiration for our own spiritual growth and development.