Lughnasadh
Observed by	Gaels, Irish People, Scottish People, Neopagans
Type	Christianized folk traditions, Pre-Christian, Pagan
Date	Northern Hemisphere: 1 August Southern Hemisphere: February 1
Celebrations	Traditional celebration of first fruits / first harvest
Related to	Lammas

Lughnasadh (Old Irish, pronounced IPA: [luɣnəsəð]; Modern Irish Lá Lúnasa; Modern Gaelic Lùnastal) is a Gaelic holiday traditionally associated with the first of August. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate The Scots people ( Scots Gaelic: Albannaich) are a Nation and an Ethnic group indigenous to Scotland. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen In some English-speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, August 1 is Lammas Day (loaf-mass day the Festival of the first Wheat Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Irish language, or rather the Goidelic languages, for which extensive written texts are possessed Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of

Contents 1 Ancient celebration 2 Modern day celebration 3 Etymology 4 Neopaganism 4.1 Celtic Reconstructionism 4.2 Wicca 5 Popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links

Ancient celebration

Lughnasadh was one of the four main festivals of the medieval Irish calendar: Imbolc at the beginning of February, Beltain on the first of May, Lughnasadh in August and Samhain in November. Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated among Gaelic peoples and some other Celtic cultures either at the beginning Beltane is the anglicized spelling of Bealtaine ( or Bealltainn ( the Gaelic names for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on Samhain (ˈsaʊn or /ˈsɑːwɪn/ Irish /ˈsˠaunʲ/ from the Old Irish samain) is the word for November in a few Gaelic languages The early Celtic calendar was based on the lunar, solar, and vegetative cycles, so the actual calendar date in ancient times may have varied. Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the harvest season, the ripening of first fruits, and was traditionally a time of community gatherings, market festivals, horse races and reunions with distant family and friends. Among the Irish it was a favored time for handfastings - trial marriages that would generally last a year and a day, with the option of ending the contract before the new year, or later formalizing it as a more permanent marriage. Handfasting is today a Neopagan ceremony of (temporary or permanent Betrothal or Wedding. ^[1][2][3]

In Celtic mythology, the Lughnasadh festival is said to have been begun by the god Lugh, as a funeral feast and games commemorating his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Celtic mythology is the Mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the Religion of the Iron Age Celts Like other Iron Age God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Lugh (ˈluː modern Irish Lú, earlier Lug) is an Irish Deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant Tailtiu ( Old Irish pronunciation /ˈtalʲtʲu/ also written Tailltiu Tailte Teia Tephi Can we get a source for this odd variant? The only ones I Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The first location of the Áenach Tailteann was at the site of modern Teltown, located between Navan and Kells. Navan (ˈnævən) is the largest town and County town or administrative capital of County Meath, Ireland. Historically, the Áenach Tailteann gathering was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held. A similar Lughnasadh festival was held at Carmun (whose exact location is under dispute). Carmun is also believed to have been a goddess of the Celts, perhaps one with a similar story as Tailtiu. A goddess is a Female Deity. Many Cultures have goddesses Often deities are part of a polytheistic system that includes several deities ^[3][4]

A festival corresponding to Lughnasadh may have been observed by the Gauls at least up to the first century; on the Coligny calendar, the eighth day of the first half of the month Edrinios, is marked with the inscription TIOCOBREXTIO that identifies other major feasts. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western The Gaulish Coligny Calendar was found in Coligny, Ain, France ( near Lyon in 1897 along with the head of a bronze statue of The same date was later adopted for the meeting of all the representatives of Gaul at the Condate Altar in Gallo-Roman times. During the reign of Augustus Caesar the Romans instituted a celebration on August 1 to the genius of the emperor in Lyon, a place believed to have also been named for the Celtic god Lugh.

Modern day celebration

On mainland Europe and in Ireland many people continue to celebrate the holiday with bonfires and dancing. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Christian church has established the ritual of blessing the fields on this day. In the Irish diaspora, survivals of the Lá Lúnasa festivities are often seen by some families still choosing August as the traditional time for family reunions and parties, though due to modern work schedules these events have sometimes been moved to adjacent secular holidays, such as the Fourth of July in the United States. The Irish diaspora (Diaspóra na nGael consists of Irish Emigrants and their descendants in countries such as Great Britain, the United States In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July (or the Fourth) is a Federal holiday commemorating the adoption ^[1][3]

On 1 August, the national holiday of Switzerland, it is traditional to celebrate with bonfires. This practice may trace back to the Lughnasadh celebrations of the Helvetii, Celtic people of the Iron Age who lived in what is now Switzerland. The Helvetii were a Celtic tribe and the main occupants of the Swiss plateau in the 1st century BC

In Northern Italy, e. g. in Canzo, Lughnasadh traditions are still incorporated into modern 1 August festivities. Canzo (in Italian or Canz (in Canzés and Brianzöö, also written Caanz) is a town and commune in the Province of Como, in

Etymology

In Old Irish, the name of the festival has at various points in time been written Lughnasa, Lughnasad or Lughnassadh. Old Irish is the name given to the oldest form of the Irish language, or rather the Goidelic languages, for which extensive written texts are possessed

In Modern Irish (Gaeilge), the name for the month of August is Lúnasa, with the festival itself being called Lá Lúnasa ("the day of Lúnasa"). Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Other names In Arabic, the month is called أغسطسص ʾUġusṭuṣ or آب ʾĀb; usage varies from place to place and

In Modern Gaelic (Gàidhlig), the festival and the month are both called Lùnastal. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages.

In Welsh (Cymraeg), the day is know as Calan Awst. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic

In Gaulish, the festival may have been called something like *Lugunassatis (the asterisk indicates this is a reconstructed form). Gaulish or Gallic is the name given to the Celtic language that was spoken in Gaul before the Vulgar Latin of the late Roman Empire became

Neopaganism

Lughnasadh is observed by Neopagans in various forms, and by a variety of names. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical As forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have very different origins, these representations can vary considerably despite the shared name. Some celebrate in a manner as close as possible to how the Ancient Celts and Living Celtic cultures have maintained the traditions, while others observe the holiday with rituals culled from numerous other unrelated sources, Celtic culture being only one of the sources used. ^[5][6][7]

Celtic Reconstructionism

Like other Reconstructionist traditions, Celtic Reconstructionists place emphasis on historical accuracy, and base their celebrations and rituals on traditional lore from the living Celtic cultures, as well as research into the older beliefs of the polytheistic Celts. Polytheistic reconstructionism, or simply Reconstructionism, is an approach to Neopaganism first emerging in the late 1960s to early 1970s and gatherig momentum Celtic polytheism refers to the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Celts, prior to the Christianization of the Celtic-speaking lands Celtic Reconstructionist Pagans tend to celebrate Lughnasadh at the time of first fruits, or on the full moon that falls closest to this time. Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (CR is a polytheistic, animistic, religious and cultural movement In the Northeastern United States, this is often the time of the blueberry harvest, while in the Pacific Northwest the blackberries are often the festival fruit. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Blueberries are Flowering plants in the genus Vaccinium, sect The BlackBerry is a Wireless Handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager ^[1][8]

In Celtic Reconstructionism (CR), Lá Lúnasa is seen as a time to give thanks to the spirits and deities for the beginning of the harvest season, and to propitiate them with offerings and prayers to not harm the still-ripening crops. The god Lugh is honored by many at this time, as he is a deity of storms and lightning, especially the storms of late summer. However, gentle rain on the day of the festival is seen as his presence and his bestowing of blessings. Many CRs also honor the goddess Tailitu on this day, and may seek to keep the Cailleachan ("Storm Hags") from damaging the crops, much in the way appeals are made to Lugh. In Irish and Scottish mythology, the ga '''Cailleach''' ( Irish plural ga ''cailleacha'', Scottish Gaelic plural gd ''cailleachan'' /kalʲəxən/ ^{[1][8][9][10]}

Wicca

In Wicca and other forms of Neopaganism, Lughnasadh (or Lammas) is one of the eight sabbats or solar festivals in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. Wheel of the Year is a Wiccan and Neopagan term for the annual cycle of the Earth 's Seasons It consists of eight festivals spaced at approximately Wheel of the Year is a Wiccan and Neopagan term for the annual cycle of the Earth 's Seasons It consists of eight festivals spaced at approximately It is the first of the three autumn harvest festivals, the other two being the Autumn equinox or Mabon and Samhain. Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four Temperate Seasons Autumn marks the transition from Summer In Agriculture, the harvest is the process of Gathering mature crops from the fields Reaping is the cutting of Grain An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle This article is about the Neopagan festival Mabon. For the Welsh mythological character see Mabon ap Modron. Samhain (ˈsaʊn or /ˈsɑːwɪn/ Irish /ˈsˠaunʲ/ from the Old Irish samain) is the word for November in a few Gaelic languages One telling of the story commemorates the sacrifice and death of the Wiccan Corn God; in its cycle of death, nurturing the people, and rebirth, the corn is considered an aspect of their Sun God. Some Neopagans mark the holiday by baking a figure of the god in bread, and then symbolically sacrificing and eating it. These celebrations are not based on Celtic culture, despite the Celtic name used for the sabbat,^[11][7] however this name seems to have been a late adoption, since in early versions of Wiccan literature the festival is merely referred to as "August Eve". ^[12]

Many Wiccans and other Neopagans also use the name Lammas for the sabbat, taken from the Anglo-Saxon and Christian holiday which occurs at about the same time. In some English-speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, August 1 is Lammas Day (loaf-mass day the Festival of the first Wheat As the name (from the Anglo-Saxon hlafmæsse "loaf-mass", "loaves festival") implies, it is an agrarian-based festival and feast of thanksgiving for grain and bread, which symbolizes the first fruits of the harvest. Wiccan and other eclectic Neopagan rituals may incorporate elements from either festival. ^[11]

Popular culture

• There is a play by Brian Friel entitled Dancing at Lughnasa which has also been made into a 1998 movie. Brian Friel (born 9 January 1929) is a playwright and more recently director of his own works from Northern Ireland who now resides in County Donegal Dancing at Lughnasa is a play by Brian Friel set in Ireland 's County Donegal in August 1936 Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)
• The traditional Irish folk music group, Lúnasa, is named after the festival. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous
• The Dutch band Omnia have a song entitled "Lughnasadh" on their album, Pagan Folk. Omnia is a self-described "neoceltic pagan Folk " band based in The Netherlands.

See also

References

Further reading

• Carmichael, Alexander (1992). Carmina Gadelica. The Carmina Gadelica is a collection of prayers hymns charms incantations blessings runes and other literary-folkloric poems and songs collected and translated by amateur folklorist Lindisfarne Press. ISBN 0-940262-50-9.
• Danaher, Kevin (1962). Kevin Danaher ( Irish, Caoimhin O' Danachair) ( 30 January 1913 &ndash 14 March 2002) was a prominent The Year in Ireland. Irish Books & Media. ISBN 0-937702-13-7.
• MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280120-1.
• McNeill, F. Marian (1959). F Marian McNeill was a Scottish folklorist, best known for writing The Silver Bough (not to be confused with The Golden Bough) a The Silver Bough, Vol. 1 -4. William MacLellan, Glasgow.
• MacNeill, Máire, ''The Festival of Lughnasa (Oxford University Press) 1962.
• Melia, Daniel F. , "The Grande Troménie at Locronan: A Major Breton Lughnasa Celebration" The Journal of American Folklore 91 No. 359 (January 1978), pp. 528-542.

External links

• Irish Fire Festivals: Lughnasadh

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