Lammas

by Yvonne Rathbone
©2000

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Lammas
Mabon

Old English

Lammas

The God begins his sacrifice.

Tree - Walnut
Middle of Summer,
Sun at 15° Leo
August 2
Alternate Names: Lughnassadh, Lammastide, Sabbat of the First Fruits, August Eve., Harvest Home, Ceresalia
Themes: Harvest, Sacrifice.

One origin of this holiday is that it is a commemoration of the funeral Lugh hosted in honor of his foster mother, Taillte. The Tailltean Games were celebrated at this time and Tailltean Marriages took place. These marriages were similar to handfastings, lasting a year and a day with the option of walking away from the relationship after that time.

The modern Irish word for August is Lúnasa (pronounced loo-na-sa). It is possible that the original name for this holiday had more to do with the name of the time it occurred than with the god, Lugh. It's interesting to compare this with the Irish word for October - Samhain, the the word for May - Beltaine. (The Irish word for February is an obvious borrowing - Feabhra.)

Rituals at this time center on the First Harvest, symbolized by grain and bread. Breadmaking and consumption are integral with the understanding that the grain was cut down and now feeds us. Eventually, it will live on as part of our bodies. Unlike Mabon, Lughnassadh is a time to remember sacrifices, both ones that we have made and ones others have made for us.

The Walnut's fruit starts maturing at around this time. The Celts likened the walnut to the egg and saw it as a seed of immortality and knowledge. At this time of year, the Walnut tree starts dropping its nuts. These nuts will feed others, and some will reseed, creating new trees in the course of time.