Lughnasa

Lughnasa (loo-na-sa) is a Celtic festival celebrated in early August, usually August 1st. It's called a cross-quarter day because it falls approximately midway between summer solstice and autumn equinox, marking the end of summer in the Celtic tradition, and the beginning of the harvesting season.

The name Lughnasa comes from Lugh, the Celtic God of harvests, crafts, and the lightening flash. Lughnasa was an assembly (nasad means assembly) to honor and appease Lugh, so he would hopefully not throw a summer storm temper-tantrum, and ruin the harvest.

Lugh is a master of all crafts, and is known for sharing his knowledge with humans. I feel a connection to Lugh-- he is the image of God as an Arts and Crafts Teacher! 

But he is also the trickster face of God-- chaotic, disorderly, operating outside the framework of right and wrong-- sending lightning at inconvenient moments. This isn't a comfortable image, but I have to face the fact that my spiritual life isn't always comfortable; sometimes what I harvest is tough to chew.

Agenda Today:
1. Journal Queries
2. Harvest and eat new potatoes
3. Make bread
4. Start a craft project


1. Journal Queries:

All of the cross-quarter days are times of transition from one focus to another. At Lughnasa the shift is from growth to harvest.

What has been growing in my life that is ready for harvest now?

How is my harvest proceeding? 
Is the Trickster in charge? If so, how am I handling that?

2. Harvest and eat new potatoes:
My garden harvest is a little slow right now: My apple tree had an off year, I didn't plant corn, and my tomatoes aren't quite ready. But I do have lots of beans, and a good bed of potatoes! 

In Ireland it's considered lucky to harvest new potatoes on Lughnasa and unlucky to dig them up earlier. 

It's traditional to have the first harvest of new potatoes for dinner on Lughnasa, often with bacon and cabbage. I made skillet potatoes with freshly harvested garlic and green beans.

3. Make bread:
The Anglo-Saxons called this cross-quarter day Lammas, "loaf-mass", for the blessing of bread made from the first harvest of grain. In ancient tradition, the grains of the Earth are the body of the God, sacrificed at the harvest, ground to flour, baked into bread and then consumed to keep the circle of life turning.

I usually make bread today, in some form: Biscuits, muffins, corn bread, or a gingerbread man... but it's just been way too warm to heat up the oven.

4. Start a craft project:

Since Lugh is the god of all crafts, on Lughnasa craftsmen, artists, and entertainers get to show off their talents. I am working on a colorful felt mat.

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