What is Lughnasa?

Lughnasa, celebrated on Aug. 1, marks the first grain harvest of the year on the Celtic calendar & the start of autumn's bounty. Historically, communities baked the first bread from the new crop and offered it in thanks for the Earth's abundance. Also known as Lughnasadh, after the Celtic god Lugh, this festival featured rituals to bless the harvest and ensure future prosperity. It was a time of feasting, games, and community gatherings.

In other parts of the world, similar first fruits harvest celebrations take place. In West Africa, the Yam Festival is a major event, honoring the yam harvest with feasting, dancing & rituals. In Jewish tradition, Shavuot celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Torah, marked by feasts and dairy foods. Native American tribes also hold Green Corn festivals, celebrating the ripening of the corn with dances, feasts & community activities.

These festivals highlight our global connection to the land and the importance of gratitude & community in celebrating Nature's bounty. Are you ready to embrace the harvest & celebrate abundance?