The Wheel of the Year holds several purposes, both theological and practical. Theologically, the story of the Wheel often varies depending on the Tradition. The Wheel gives the accounts of the mythological events that repeat throughout the year as well as a vague "history" of the Gods and Goddesses involved within the pantheon. For the newbies, by "Tradition" we mean "denomination"; for example Wiccan, Celtic, Druid, Native American, etc. On the more practical side, the Wheel trains us to be able to deal with death and the inevitability of re-birth that follows. Paganism teaches that death, a natural function of the universe, is a part of life; a dramatic change that is the beginning of a new experience, and something to be celebrated at the proper time not feared (not condoning Suicide!) Through the ideas of Heaven and Hell, Christianity teaches a deep fear of death, and this spurs our society's horror of death. We are always trying to find new and improved ways to beat death, but we will never succeed. It is sad our society portrays death as such a terrifying experience; we would certainly have less emotional pain and suffering in the world if death could be seen as what it is: a transformation, nothing more.
In this section you will find a rendition of the upcoming quarter of the Wheel of the Year. Included will be the mythological lore and some traditional practices for the celebration, along with some ideas for activities and decorations.
*Date/Name:
August 1, 1997 holds the date for the next Sabbat: Lughnasadh
(pronounced "LOO-nahs-ah"), or Lammas, begins the last quarter of the
Celtic/Pagan year.
*Background Information:
Lughnasadh is the beginning of the grain harvest, and the harvest
season in general. The importance of grain to life is depicted in
almost every pantheon on Earth. The preparation of the grain is
symbolic of the life cycle. The growth, havest, and sown seed
directly mirrors the life, death and rebirth of all life. The day of
the festival was originally on the first day of harvest, even if it
varied from year to year. Alternately, when the sun reaches 15
degrees Leo, usually around August 5th, Old Lammas was celebrated.
This Sabbat can also be known as: Lammastide, First Harvest Festival,
Old Lammas, The Sabbat of First Fruits, Ceresalia (Ancient Roman for
the Grain Goddess Ceres), Festival of Green Corn (Native American),
Feast of Cardenas, Thingtide, Elembious, Cornucopia (Strega), Harvest
Home, Feast of Bread, and August Eve. Various spellings also include:
Lughnasad, Lughnassad, Lughnasa, Lunasdal, or Lunasa. The most common
name is Lammas, meaning "loaf-mass," taken from Anglo-Saxon dialects,
while Lughnasadh means "The funeral games of Lugh," referring to the
games he hosted in honor of His foster-mother Tailltiu.
*Meanings:
Lughnasadh celebrates the first harvest of the year, which typically
produces grain and early sprouting fruits. It is therefore typically
associated with the Sun Gods and Agricultural Goddesses. In modern
times, Pagans do not (usually) harvest their own foods, not since the
invention of supermarkets, but this does not negate any of the meaning
of the celebration. It is a time of thanksgiving and sharing, not
only of physical subsistence, but of knowledge and spiritual growth as
well. With the passing days, remember the warmth and bounty of Summer
in the food consumed, and remember that nothing in the universe is
constant.
It is a time to take a break and enjoy the fruits of your labor, as well as a time of health and erotic energy. It is considered in many traditions a taboo not to share food and thought with others. Natural energies are geared toward prosperity, abundance, and good fortune, as well as career, financial gain, and health. On an additional side note, all four Quarter festivals were seen as being times of a weakening in the "veil," the boundary that separates the physical plane from the spiritual plane; "crossing over" was easier, as well as magick workings more potent.
*History/Mythology -- Celtic:
There are many Traditions that celebrate this Sabbat differently and
it would take a book to add all the Sabbat Lore, so we will
concentrate on two of the most popular areas: Celtic and Wiccan.
Lughnasadh is named for Lugh (pronounced "Loo"), the Irish Sun God.
The four Celtic Fire Festivals vary greatly in celebration customs,
often by tribal regions, however, the religious theme remained
consistent.
Within Celtic traditions, the masculine principle is sustained through the cycle of birth, death, and re-birth, while the feminine principle holds immortality. The Triple Goddess goes through the metamorphosis of Maiden, Mother, and Crone because of her maternal longing to create and sustain life. The Goddess sustains the God by never allowing Him to reach old age. In the cycle, she is the Mother who gives him birth, the Crone who teaches him, and the Maiden who becomes his lover. This is not an act of incest as many people chose to see, but rather symbolic of the shifting seasons and transformations we all take on during our life. From the unison of God and Maiden Goddess, comes Tanist, the God’s other self.
At Lughnasadh, the Maiden Goddess "betrays" the God and gives herself to the son, Tanist, who is the God of the dark half of the year. No, this is not like the God of Good and the God of Evil, rather a division of the years daylight patterns: one God for the lengthening daylight, and Tanist for the half of waning daylight. With the Maiden Goddess, Tanist will sow the seed of rebirth at Lughnasadh, that allows the God to be reborn again at Yule. Lugh, the God of the Light half of the year is not killed, but rather the ability to grow is taken from him. In ancient times the stolen growth aspect was symbolized through the maiming of the king. The king was tied to an oak tree by his hair with one foot on a cauldron and the other lashed to the back of a horse or sow (both which are representative of the southern quarter and symbolic of the Goddess). The horse or sow was sent from under him, causing a tear through the genital region and destroying his fertility but not his life. His life was not taken until just before Samhain when Tanist began his reign.
The seeming betrayal is not out of hate or disgust but rather out of the love the Goddess has for the God. The Goddess will give rebirth to the God at Yule and he will rise to slay his rival at Bealltainn. This battle of light and dark keeps the seasons in balance, as well as the cycle of birth, death, and re-birth.
During the Bronze Age the God King, the predecessor of the High Kings, was elected to serve for a year and a day, where after that time, he gave his life in sacrifice and honor of the Goddess, as well as for the welfare of his people. The King's physical incarnation represents the fertility of the land, which has ceased when his fertility was taken; a theme that is found within all Celtic mythology. In later times, this maiming was discontinued and the feast of Lughnasadh began. A feast by Lugh in honor of his foster mother, Tailltiu.
*Mythology -- Wiccan:
Lammas resides in the month of the Barley Moon. At Lammas, the Wiccan
rendition of the Wheel of the Year, portrays a mysterious weakening in
the God (which is associated primarily with the Sun). The Sun rises
further to the South each day and the daylight shortens. The Goddess
watches in sorrow, realizing Her mate is dying, but is also joyful in
the knowledge that he grows in her womb to be reborn as Her child.
The Wiccan Goddess retains the Trinity aspect of Maiden, Mother,
Crone, but there is no Tanist to present a rivalry for the God, nor
any betrayal of love for the Goddess to commit. The Mother gives
birth to the God, the Crone teaches him, and the Maiden becomes His
lover and He becomes His own father. When He dwindles and dies, He is
reborn at Yule, when the sun starts to grow in strength again, and
daylight lengthens once more.
*Decorations and Activities:
Traditionally, the first grain is baked into a loaf of bread and
offered to the Goddess on the alter and/or eaten ceremoniously. Berry
pies are often baked to honor the sacrifice of the "Green Man," the
spirit of all vegetation, whose death promises a bountiful harvest the
following year.
Necklaces of corn seeds were traditionally made, both as decoration and a practical way of storing seeds for next years sowing. Also Corn Dolls were fashioned from the last sheaf of grain which was cut by all the harvesters together. The would all stand away from the stalk and throw their sickles at it, the one who cut the stalk was honored later in the feast. Corn Dolls are sacred to the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess. Corn Dolls can also be used as a fertility amulet, charged with energy during ritual and can be used as centerpieces for the alter, representing the Goddess.
A very easy and fun decoration is the Sun/Corn Wheel, made to honor the Sun God of the festival (which ever it may be). Wire coat hangers (or anything) are fashioned into a circle, and the corn husk is attached to the perimeter. Ears of corn are connected from the perimeter to small wooden disk that rests in the middle of the circle. Wrapping extra husk around the outside of the wire circle, using glue or thread to bind it, and leaving some dangling decoratively improves the appearance even more. Try to keep the hanger hook to hang the finished product by. Another variation is the Corn Man Wheel, made in a similar manner, but with five husks to resemble the five points of the pentacle. (Greatly resembles a wire wheel with corn husk spokes.)
Rhibo, a traditional Welsh game, is another (previously) common form of celebration. The pairs of people line up facing each other and link hands, creating a "bed" with their arms. A person is laid across the bed and tossed into the air, just as grain is sifted. This game was most likely a agricultural lore, designed to ensure a large grain harvest the following year, by sympathetically mirroring the activities that are in the final sections of harvesting the crops.
Wiccans often hand bake bread and use it in ritual as an offering to the God and Goddess, and then consume it with thanks during the "Tea and Cakes Feast" afterward. Sometimes these loafs are fashioned in the shape of an ear of corn or wheat, symbolic of the harvest and work done to bring the food to them.
Also very appropriate to plant the seeds of fruit consumed during ritual. If it sprouts, tend it with Love and a representation of your connection to the Divine.
Other activities include: Horse racing (in water if possible, a rain lore for the following year); visits to lakes, wells, and/or orchards; mountain climbing; bonfire meetings to exchange learned lessons and stories.
*Symbolic of Lughnasadh:
Hope you enjoyed your celebrations!