LUGNASSADH
Also called August Eve, and Lammas, from Anglo-Saxon half-maes, loaf-feast, referring to the loaves that even in these times are baked from the first grains harvests, blessed by the priest and distributed to the congregation. A first- fruits festival of great antiquity. The first sheaf cut, the first hamper of fruit or vegetables gathered in a particular field, orchard, or village has always been held sacred to the gods. A new-wine festival. A kick-off feast for the hard-working harvest season, marked by a certain grace and country formality, with polished performances of music and dance. Roast goose is featured, a tradition attached now to Michaelmas.THEMES
Summer is at its height. The grain and the first of the fruits ripen. Harvest and wine making begin.
The great Mother appears as Corn-Goddess: Demeter, often accompanied by her daughter Persephone. In a sense the Goddess "is" the corn; or the Mother gives the corn, and the Daughter represents the corn itself. The vine-god appears as a complementary figure.
Lugnassadh is the great feast of Hugh, or Llew, Welsh god of light, as ripener of the grain. A feast of Diana as goddess of the orchards. Earlier, of Artemis as Vesta, in Greece.
PURPOSE OF THE RITE
To secure the approval of the gods for the harvest. To avert storms, rains and floods that would destroy the harvest. Thanksgiving from the crops. Puberty rites for girls. Blessing of the crops, the herbs to be used in medicines, the hives and the tools, vehicles and beasts used in the harvest work.
FOLK CUSTOMS
Rush-bearing and will-dressing. Vines, fruits, herbs, grains and other crops are blessed in churches. The first sheaf of grain is cut ceremonially and made into an image of a women, called the Corn Mother, which is set up and honored at the festivities. An ancient tournament of bards in Wales.
Puck Fair in England lasts three days. Father Time, a figure derived from Kronos or Saturn, crowns the little queen of the fair, and she, in turn, crowns a billygoat as king of the fair.
A North American Indian custom has girls who have had their first menstrual period during that year secretly compose an image of the Corn Maiden. The body is simply a bundle of cornhusks, resembling a flowing green robe. Care is lavished on the head, face, hair and ornaments, all made of natural materials.
The old women judge the dolls, and the most beautiful and lifelike is chosen to represent the Goddess at the festival. Its maker is made queen of the festival.
The remaining dolls are burned in the ritual fire as an offering.
The first three days of August are sacred to the dryads. Trees and vines may not be cut, and offerings are made to the dryad of a favorite tree.
SYMBOLIC DECORATIONS
Vines, grapes, sheaves of grain, roses, the colors white, red, purple.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Concerts, ballets, wine-making parties; exhibitions of ethnic dance; folk dancing; display and sale of herbs and herbal products, garden produce, baked goods, pickles, dried flower arrangements, etc. A hootenanny and conference on Pagan music.
THE RITE
May take place during the sunset, on the Eve, either in a garden setting or indoors with west light. Coveners wear a lot of jewelry, wreaths of roses, and little bells sewn on garments or worn on bracelets, shoes or garters. HPS wears a wreath made of ears of ripe grain decorated with poppies or marigolds. HP wears a wreath of vine leaves that should include small horns.
Pagan Way suggests burning oil or floating candles on top of the water in the cauldron to serve as the central flame. Place the altar in the Southwest.
A likeness of the Goddess should be raised behind the altar. It may be an elegant marble figure or made of straw. A papier mache replica of the Cretan Potnia would be excellent. If the Circle is placed so that a tree stands just back of the Southwest station, the figure can be fixed to the trunk. Crown and ornament the figure with ears of grain and flowers - marigolds and poppies are sacred to Her.
Heap sheaves of grain and other harvest fruits on and near the altar.
For communion, bake a loaf of whole-grain bread in the form of the Goddess. It will be broken in pieces and distributed. You can make your loaf-form by manipulating aluminum foil pie plates. If wine had been made during summer, broach a small keg to furnish drink for the communion and feast. Alternatively, you may use mean or any red wine.
Use a broom in the banishing.
In the prayer of intention, offer the first-fruits to the Goddess as acknowledgement that the crops belong to her, express confidence that they are meant for human use, and ask her blessing upon the harvesting of them.
HP lights the fire. HPS invokes the Goddess and charges the fire. Girls who are to celebrate their new womanhood are brought into the Circle to share in the communion.
HPS blesses the harvest fruits, anointing them with liquid from the cauldron dipped up with the tip of the Wand. Puberty rites, if any, follow. If you use the Indian custom described above, set the chosen corn-doll up at the foot of the Corn-Mother, to represent the Maiden and crown the Harvest Queen. An excellent crown can be made of heavy parchment bearing a fancy design worked in seeds and grains.
HP pours a libation. Wine is poured for all, and toasts are drunk. Now feast and dance, and end the rite as usual.
Remember that these Sabbat fairs can be used as fund-raisers for a group's projects.