Lughnasadh

(pic. 11[9])

Lughnasadh(pic. 11), or as it is also called the Lammas, is considered to be one of the Harvest festivals. However, this was the first harvest celebration of the year, when the crops were first harvested. The name of this festival originally Irish “Lughnasadh”. Some authors define it as marriage, gathering or feast. Traditionally it is held on July 31st, August 1st as mentioned in Patrick S. Dinneen Irish English Dictionary (1904), or about halfway between summer and autumn. [1][2][3][4]

Originally the festival is named after the god Lugh, who is linked to the Harvest festival. It involved great gatherings that included religious ceremonies, ritual athletic contests, feasting, and trading.[4][5]

During the festival people would gather together and trade goods such as corn, cattle and various things. It also involved matchmaking, which included in itself a custom of trial marriages. Likewise, people would visit holy wells to make offerings of coins, making wishes and giving thanks for the Harvest. [6]

Nowadays, Lughnasadh is still celebrated the same way(pic. 12) by some Ireland people and nearby cities. The tradition hasn’t changed much. It is called Lughnasa Festivals and Lughnasa Fairs. [7]

(pic. 12. celebration of Lughnasadh[8])

Resources:

1. https://druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-festivals/lughnasadh

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh

3. https://otherworldlyoracle.com/lughnasadh/

4. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lughnasadh#cite_note-Dinneen-1

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugh

6. https://ireland-calling.com/lughnasadh/

7. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lughnasadh#Revival

8. https://druidry.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LughnasadhRite.jpg

9. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7f/69/f1/7f69f170cef0849e1307f2d6a86e03cd.jpg