Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the Celtic Wheel of the Year, followed by the Fall Equinox (or Mabon), and finally Samhain. Falling midway between the summer and winter solstices and fall and spring equinoxes, it’s named for the spear-wielding Celtic deity Lugh, who’s associated with fire and the sun.
In ancient Celtic culture it was time to start preparing for winter, with the first grain harvest and preservation of fruits and vegetables. Harvest festivals were popular between Lughnasadh and Mabon, when gathering for celebration and trading goods. This tradition, rooted in old customs, continues through rural and agricultural fairs throughout the US and abroad. Today Lughnasadh is celebrated by baking bread, making beer or wine, hosting bonfires and decorating homes with seasonal flowers, cornstalks, and early squash and gourds.
Now that we are three-quarters of the way through, at the last turn in the Wheel of the Year, it is a good time to reflect on what to be grateful for, what disappointments you experienced and what you want to focus on before year’s end. The Full Moon this past week was a poignant reminder that summer’s already half over, a perfect moment to celebrate and appreciate the warm weather and beauty of what’s ripe. We’re fortunate with a prolific blueberry season, and B. made a delicious sourdough loaf with the fresh berries!
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