Lughnassadh (Loo-nuh-sah) ~ February 2^nd

Lughnassadh is celebrated on February 2^nd and marks the first harvest of the fall. This sabbat is also known as Lammas (Lam-mass), named for the Celtic sun God, Lugh. The name Lammas, comes from the Saxon for 'bread-mass', which reflects the importance of bread for this holiday.

The fertility of the summer is passing, and it is now time to harvest that abundance. The central theme for the holiday is the giving of thanks for the crops. Much of the symbolism for this sabbat revolves around corn and grains, the crops typically harvested in early fall.

The God and Goddess are older, and He is losing his strength as seen in the waning daylight. His energy has been sacrificed to produce the fall crops. At the same time, the Goddess is pregnant with the young God to be born again at Yule.

Activities and Rituals: Games, the traditional riding of poles/staves, country fairs, breaking bread with friends, making corn dollys, harvesting herbs for charms/rituals, Lughnasadh fire with sacred wood & dried herbs, feasting, competitions, lammas towers (fire-building team competitions), spear tossing, gathering flowers for crowns, fencing/swordplay, games of skill, martial sports, chariot races, hand-fastings, trial marriages, dancing ‘round a corn mother (doll)

Incense : Eucalyptus, safflower, apple
Tools: Athame

Stones/Gems: Aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamonds and citrine
Colors: Red, gold, yellow
Symbols & Decorations: Corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley, oats), first fruits/vegetables of garden labor, corn dollies, baskets of bread, spear, cauldron, sickle, scythe, threshing tools, sacred loaf of bread, harvested herbs, bonfires, bilberries, God figures made of bread or cookie dough, phallic symbols
Foods: Loaves of homemade wheat, oat, and corn bread, barley cakes, baking bread (gingerbread man) in honor of the God. corn, potatoes, summer squash, nuts, acorns, wild berries (any type), apples, rice, pears, berry pies, elderberry wine, mead, cider, beer
Deities:

Goddesses:

The Mother, Dana (Lugh’s wife & queen), Tailltiu (Welsh-Scottish), Demeter(Greek), Ceres (Roman grain goddess..Honored at Ceresalia), the Barley Mother, Seelu (Cherokee), Corn Mother, Isis (Her birthday is celebrated about this time), Luna (Roman Moon Goddess), other agricultural Goddesses, the waxing Goddess

Gods:
Lugh (Celtic, one of the Tuatha De Danaan), Johnny Barleycorn, Arianrhod’s golden haired son Lleu (Welsh God of the Sun & Corn where corn includes all grains, not just maize), Dagon (Phoenician Grain God), Tammuz/Dummuzi (Sumerian), Dionysus, plus all sacrificial Gods who willingly shed blood/give their life that their people/lands may prosper, all vegetation Gods & Tanus (Gaulish Thunder God), Taranis, (Romano-Celtic Thunder God), Tina, (Etruscan-Thunder God), the waning God

Herbs and Flowers: Corn, rye, wheat

Animals: Griffins, roosters, calves, centaurs, phoenix

Work: Rituals/Magicks: Fire magick, Money spells, health spells, bonfires, prosperity, and generosity, continued success, good fortune, abundance spells.