Lammas

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In the days when almost everybody worked on the land, the harvest was extremely important. The first corn was made into the loaf used at Lammas (loaf-mass). The last of the corn (even up to 100 years ago) was cut with a ritual linked with ancient Egypt, and the corn dolly made then was supposed to bring prosperity until the next harvest.

This article is about the Church celebration Lammas. Click here for: the article on the Wiccan/Neopagan celebration Lammas (Lughnassad).

In Scotland, Lammas is one of the Term and Quarter Days on which debts, especially quarterly rents, are payable. It falls on 28th August, although prior to 1886 it coincided with the church celebration of Lammas Day, on the 1st August. The other term and quarter days are: Martinmas (formerly 11th November, now 28th November), Candlemas (formerly 2nd February, now 28th February) and Whitsunday (formerly 15th May, now 28th May).

As part of the Church calendar in English-speaking countries Lammas Day (believed to be a corruption of Loaf-mass Day) is celebrated on 1st August. It is traditionally the festival of the first wheat harvest of the year, when a loaf made from the new crop was taken to church. In many parts of England tenants were bound to present such a loaf to their landlords on or before 1st August.

Because of various language links to similar celebrations in other places it is believed that the origins of the day are pre-Christian. It coincides with the Wiccan/neopagan celebration also called Lammas.