Lughnasadh✨

Lughnasadh, one of the eight holidays that fall on the pagan Wheel of the Year, has returned this August first (or for some, the first Sunday in August). It falls about halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumn Equinox (Mabon). Celtic in origin, Lughnasadh is a holiday that traditionally welcomes the transition from the dog days of summer to the start of the harvest season.

Celebrating the holidays on the Wheel of the Year is a very special tradition for me; as both a way to feel closer and connect with our mother earth, and to personally learn more about my own Celtic heritage. There is something so beautiful about the wheel of the year. In a society that is so hyper-focused on constant productivity and overstimulation, it can be difficult, if not even impossible, to maintain our connection to Mother Earth, and to remember that we are, cyclically, part of nature ourselves.

Traditionally, Lughnasadh was a reverent celebration of the God Lugh, consisting of a feast and athletic competition, among other things. For most people, that kind of celebration isn’t feasible in this day and age, but there are some simple ways to celebrate the spirit of Lughnasadh on your own.

Bake some bread: For many, the crop ready at the beginning of the harvest season was wheat. An easy way to pay homage to this tradition is to bake a loaf of bread. If you are able and enjoy it, you can make a big, homemade loaf to share with your loved ones or to eat with a big chunk of butter. But it’s also perfectly fine to alter this tradition to work for you. Want to toss some ingredients in a bread maker? Great. Do you have some Pillsbury biscuits you can pop open and toss in the oven. Amazing. Gluten-free? That’s okay, bake something you do like, it’s the spirit of the thing, after all.

Have a beer: Alcohol was often safer to drink during several periods in history, and wheat-based drinks, such as beer, were popular during the harvest season as well. Not a fan of beer, or alcohol? Any drink that feels like a celebration, and that feels like a treat after a long day's (or summers!) work will do just fine.

Tend to a plant or two: Depending on where you are in the world it may still feel very much like summer. If you have something to harvest that’s amazing, but if it’s not harvest season for you, that’s okay too. I am in North Texas, so the summer heat is still very much present and my garden isn’t quite ready to harvest, but I do have some tomato and herbs I can celebrate with. The act of tending to the plants themselves, even without harvesting anything, is still a beautiful way to celebrate the seasonality of it all.

Welcome in a new season: While for most of us, the transition of true summer to fall is still a few months away, we are still entering a new season of life with the arrival of Lughnasdah. Open your window, even if only for a few minutes, (I’ll do this tonight after the sun goes down) and air out your home. Light a candle or two, and welcome in the spirit of the blessings and abundance of a successful harvest season.

Do something positive for the Earth: As always, no Wheel of the Year celebration is complete without enacting the cardinal rule of leaving it better than you found it. Do something, whatever is feasible for you, to benefit our Earth today. Upcycle something, recycle, water a plant, or clean up some trash, just make sure to say thank you for supporting us another year.