Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1st, the midpoint between Litha (the Summer Solstice) and Mabon (the Autumn Equinox). The ancient Celtic festival lasted one month, with August 1st being the midpoint of the festival. Lughnasadh's month long festival would have roughly taken place while the Sun was at home in the zodiac sign of Leo. Some modern pagans celebrate Lughnasadh on the Sunday (the Sun's day) that is closest to August 1st. It is one of four great fire festivals in the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
Lughnasadh is Gaelic for “Commemoration of Lugh”. Lugh is the Celtic Sun God. He is portrayed as a warrior and a master craftsman. He is associated with oaths, laws, and truth. He is also associated with Hermes and Mercury. Some sources point to the holiday celebrating the hand fasting or marriage of Lugh. The holiday is also called Lughnasa, which means “the marriage of Lugh.” Other sources site that the holiday was created as annual funeral games to commemorate Tailtu, Lugh's foster mother. Tailtiu is said to have brought agriculture to the people of Ireland. Bilberry Sunday is another holiday celebrated at this time. It is the tradition of gathering bilberries (blueberries). If the bilberries were plentiful it was said that the crop harvest would be plentiful as well. Lammas is Old English “loaf mass.” August 1st was traditionally the day to harvest the wheat field in many European cultures. In early Christian tradition, on this day the first loafs of bread were baked and blessed during mass.
A few traditional ways to celebrate this holiday are baking bread, blueberry picking, baking a blueberry pie, making flower wreaths, basking in the sun, and enjoying a get together with friends and family. Crystals to work with at this time are citrine, green aventurine, carnelian, moss agate, and shiva lingam. Herbs and flowers associated with Lammas are acacia, sunflowers, wheat, basil, goldenrod, calendula, rosemary, frankincense, and sandalwood.
How ever you choose to celebrate Lammas, it is a time to honor the Sun and the Light of Life. We are in the last long days of Summer and the nights are getting longer every day. It's a time to be thankful for our first harvest, our blessings that we are beginning to receive. It is a moment for us to enjoy the fruits of Summer.
Happy Lughnasadh and may you receive endless Blessings!