Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh: ‘The gathering of Lugh’, Celebrated on August first, this holiday coincides with the weening of the lambs born at Imbolc and the shearing of the sheep. It is also the time of first harvest. This day celebrates the protective power of the god Lugh, who presides over this holiday and is honoured as guardian of the wild and cultivated crops. Lughnasadh was celebrated with market fairs and games, offerings to the god on hill tops, and horse races through water.

Just as Brighid tempers the winter elements at Imbolc, Lugh tempers the heat of summer at this, the hottest time of the year. Thunderstorms on this day are considered a good omen. Like Bealtaine and Samhain, Lughnasadh is traditionally celebrated with bonfires. This day is also associated with the Fir Bolg goddess, Tailtiu, ‘Great Land’. Some sources say Lugh instituted these celebrations as part of a funerary celebration for Tailtiu, as she is his fostermother, and instituted agriculture.

(A fuller treatment of the subject is forthcoming.)