The 2024 dates for Lammas | Lughnasadh | Loaf Mass Day are August 1 to 12. Many cultures celebrate Midsummer - this week we also mark 8:8:8 Lion's Gate as well as the peak of the Perseids meteor showers.
We are halfway through the summer in all its glory - with its COVID spreading county fairs, backyard barbeques, political rodeos, and Olympic upsets.
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| image c/o National Today |
At Lammas we honor the past with a feast of bread to celebrate grain from ancient cultures. Because of its association with Lugh - warrior, king, master craftsman, savior - it is also a traditional time of year for craft and music festivals. Folks gather and feast as skilled artisans showcase their workmanship and sell their creations.
Goddess is ever present in her aspect as Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth Mother, Ceres and Demeter. Demeter, as Corn Mother, represents the ripe corn of this year’s harvest. Her daughter Persephone, Kore - represents the grain.
The seed dropping back deep into the dark earth - hidden throughout the winter - to reappear in the spring as new growth. As the grain harvest is gathered in there is food to feed the community through the winter.
Within that harvest is the seed of next year’s rebirth, regeneration and harvest. The Grain Mother is ripe and full - heavily pregnant she carries the seed of the new year’s Sun God within her.
This is the deep core meaning of Lammas - evoking the fullness and fulfilment of the present harvest - it holds at its heart the seed of all future harvests.
As the sun wanes it is a time when the year changes and shifts. Active growth is slows down and the darker days of winter and reflection call to us.
As the living Spirit of the corn and grain. are cut down spirit surrenders life so that others may be sustained - that the life of the community can continue.
Eaten as the bread and reborn in the seed returned to the earth. The cycle of life thrives on.
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