The festival of Lughnasad is named for the Celtic Sun God, Lugh, who’s name means “bright light”. It is called the “First Harvest” and marks the beginning of the Harvest season, which lasts until Samhain in late October. The crops that are abundant now are corn, grain, and barley. There is a traditional folk tale / song titled “John Barley Corn” which depicts how the God (manifested in the corn & grain) is cut down and ground into flour to be made into bread for nourishment of the people. This is the age old story, found in several ancient mythologies, of the Year God, who is sacrificed in order to ensure the continued survival of His people.

There were three men came out of the west,
their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die
They've plowed, they've sown, they've harrowed him in
Threw clods upon his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn was dead
They've let him lie for a very long time,
'til the rains from heaven did fall
And little Sir John sprung up his head and so amazed them all
They've let him stand 'til Midsummer's Day
'til he looked both pale and wan
And little Sir John's grown a long long beard
and so become a man

They've hired men with their scythes so sharp
to cut him off at the knee
They've rolled him and tied him by the waist
serving him most barbarously
They've hired men with their sharp pitchforks
who've pricked him to the heart
And the loader he has served him worse than that
For he's bound him to the cart
They've wheeled him around and around a field
'til they came unto a barn

And there they made a solemn oath on poor John Barleycorn
They've hired men with their crabtree sticks
to cut him skin from bone
And the miller he has served him worse than that
For he's ground him between two stones

And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
and his brandy in the glass
And little Sir John and the nut brown bowl
proved the strongest man at last
The huntsman he can't hunt the fox
nor so loudly to blow his horn
And the tinker he can't mend kettle or pots
without a little barleycorn

Lugh is the patron God of bards and musicians, so this is a good time to focus on learning a new craft or further developing an old one. Just as the crops are now bearing fruit, this is the time to share the fruit of your labors from the year that is passing. What new skills, talents, knowledge, and wisdom have you learned this year that you can now pass onto others in your community?

Lughnasad occurs about August 1st, when the Sun reaches 15 degrees in the sign of Leo, the Lion. I personally celebrate this Sabbat each year by attending the Faerie Festival in Veneta, OR with my coven sisters. The slogan of this festival is “Live Your Legend” and this is very much in line with the Leo drive for dynamic creative expression. For three days I will be celebrating, dancing, and playing, surrounded by joyful folk dressed as faeries, elves, gnomes, and other Otherworld creatures.

Blessed Be & Happy Lughnasad!

To Celebrate Lughnasad:

• Make a corn dolly using stalks of wheat or corn husks.
  
  
• Bake a loaf of bread in the shape of a man and sacrifice him in your ritual. Make him a part of your feast but save a piece to offer the gods.
  
  
• Take time to harvest fruits and vegetables from your garden with your family. If you don’t have a garden, visit one of the pick-your-own farms in your area.
  
  
• Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year.
  
  
• Decorate with sickles, scythes, fresh vegetables & fruits, grains, berries, corn dollies, bread. Colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.
  
  
• Host a field day! Set up obstacle courses, water balloon tossing, 3 legged race and other fun competitions.
  
  
• This is also a good time for making preserves, either literally or symbolically. As you turn the summer's fruit into jams, jellies and chutneys for winter, think about the fruits that you have gathered this year and how you can hold onto them.