Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh, Lammas, the Tailltean Games or Celebration of Bread is the wiccan, pagan and neopagan festival which celebrates harvest and honours the spirit of the grain. The name Lugnasadh is preferred by many pagans, to distinguish the celebration from the Christian Lammas. It comes from Irish (Gaelic) Lughnasadh.

In the northern hemisphere Lammas is celebrated on 1 August (a date decreed by Julius Caesar), and in the Southern hemisphere on 1 February. Theoretically, the date of Lammas should move in accordance with the position of the moon, but it is rarely observed on any other day than 1 August/1 February. As with most Old Religion celebrations, festivities can begin at sunset on July/March 31, and continue until sunset August/February 1st.

Lughnasad is a re-enactment of the funeral games ordained by Lugh, Lord of Light, on the death of his mother, Taillte, and a celebration of Lugh's victory over the spirits of the Other World. Dancing, singing and bonfires are traditional components of the celebration, as is "Tailltean Marriage" - couples are temporarily married by the offices of a poet or bard; the marriage lasts a year and a day until the next Lammas day, when they can choose to stay together or say goodbye.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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