Other Names: Lughnassadh, Lunasdal.
Date: August 1 or 2.
Meaning of the Word: Lammas, or “Half-mass” is the Feast of the Bread; nasadh means “to give in marriage”, and “Lugh” is the name of a Celtic god; therefore, Lughnassadh means “to give in marriage to Lugh”.
Primary Focus: Bread harvest, first harvest, grain harvest, games of sport, blessing and saining rites, payments of debts, weather magick.
Age of Holiday: Unknown.
Popular Mythos: Marriage of Lugh to the Goddess (goddess varies), sacrifice of fruits to the soil (depending on your area), season of handfasting.
Astrological Sign: 15 degrees Leo; fire; fixed.
Planetary Ruler: Sun.
Lammas is most associated with the first of the harvest celebrations encompassing hay, grain, and cereal yields, and appears to be best known for its festival atmoshpere and temporary handfastings (marriages that lasted one year at the consent of both parties) in medieval documentation.
Lammas is most associated with the first of the harvest celebrations encompassing hay, grain, and cereal yields, and appears to be best known for its festival atmoshpere and temporary handfastings (marriages that lasted one year at the consent of both parties) in medieval documentation.
Lammas Invocation
The King and Queen are wed at last
while summer’s kiss turns fields and grass
to harvest gold, and garden gifts
find sacrifice on earthen lips.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Debts repaid and games of sport,
weather magick - Thor’s retort
blessing babies, breaking bread
stocking up for winter’s stead.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Bonfires, dancing, circle round
fruits and produce from the ground
offer up a feast of praise
while shadows lengthen in the maze.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
August sun turns all to bronze
golden children singing songs
fireflies flitter in the dusktouching all with faerie dust.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Dark Lord melts into the night
taking with him summer’s light
merging wishes, law, and might
removing evil from our sight.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
while summer’s kiss turns fields and grass
to harvest gold, and garden gifts
find sacrifice on earthen lips.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Debts repaid and games of sport,
weather magick - Thor’s retort
blessing babies, breaking bread
stocking up for winter’s stead.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Bonfires, dancing, circle round
fruits and produce from the ground
offer up a feast of praise
while shadows lengthen in the maze.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
August sun turns all to bronze
golden children singing songs
fireflies flitter in the dusktouching all with faerie dust.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Dark Lord melts into the night
taking with him summer’s light
merging wishes, law, and might
removing evil from our sight.
Witches gather hand to hand
power raised along the band.
Vortex spiral in its quest
force to form I manifest!
Magickal Ideas for your Lammas Sabbat Ritual
. Break bread or pretzels.
. Bless marriages, babies, and homes.
. Have an outdoor picnic.
. Make a wreath out of grain to honour the harvest.
. Go camping and perform your ritual in the woods.
. Use the photographs taken over the summer to honour harvest home, or spend t he week before Lammas taking pictures in the country or mountains to make a magickal collage of thanksgiving.
. The sun is fixed, firey Leo rules this season. Use your magicks to “set” patterns for the coming winter months.
. Design an outdoor scavenger hunt for younger family members. Each item can represent the celebration of the season. Use the things found to create a simple spell for ongoing prosperity and health through the winter months.
