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| Modern advertisement for a Lughnasa festival in Ireland |
Here we are again, another year and the return of
Lughnasa. Lughnasa is one of the oldest
festivals we have in the Isles. In modern
Gaelic spelling, it is Lúnasa, in Scots Gaelic, Lùnastal, and in Manx Gaelic
Luanistyn. I like the spelling Lughnasa myself.
The festival is observed in
Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and throughout the Diaspora of the Gaelic
people. The etymology of Lughnasa is from the Old Gaelic, Lug (the god) = násad (assembly).
Lughnasa is the start of the Harvest season.
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| Lugh |
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| An Tarbh (The Bull) |
Lughnasa is mentioned in the earliest Gaelic literature
and was ancient even by early Christian times.
The festival is named from the god Lugh, who is one of the ancient gods
of the Gael. Lughnasa includes religious ceremonies, ritual sporting contests, matchmaking, visits to holy wells and
Faerie trees, and special market days. Since ancient times, there festival included
the tasting of the ‘first fruits’ and elaborate feasts, the sacrifice of a
bull, servings of bilberries, and a ritual play and dance where Lugh takes and
protects the harvest for the people of the tribes.
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| A pre Christian image of Lugh from France |
Lughnasa enjoyed great popularity well into the 20th
century, but waned in mid-century, as modernity put stress upon these old
customs... but, fortunately, Lughnasa has seen a great revival in the last few
years. Lughnasa festival, fairs, and activities are growing in popularity. The festival survives under
different names, such as Crom Dubh Sunday, Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday,
Mountain Sunday. Lughnasa has been
incorporated in Christian ritual with Saint Patrick filling in for Lugh, in the
pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick on the last Sunday in July.
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| the Lughnasa fire |
In Irish myth Lughnasa was begun by the god Lugh as a
funeral feast and athletic competition to commemorate the death of
Tailtiu, his foster mother. The legends
tell us that she died of exhaustion after clearing the fields of Ireland for
agriculture. Tailtiu was the wife of the last Fir Bolg king of Ireland, before
the coming of the Tuath Dé Danann.
Enjoy your Lughnasa... I cooked a beef brisket for the celebration and will have a wee fire out in the fire pit tonight. We remember our ancestors on such occasions, always a good thing to do.
1 comment:
Just accidentally discovered you and your wonderful blog. I too have had magical experiences and my husband would tell you that I "Just know things". I have just purchased your book. I hope to tell you one day of a spontaneous trip to Ireland on my whim. We found the family farm of 325 years when the entire Mormon side of my family, which I am not, had failed to find with their 500+ genealogists!
It also put us there during Samhain which we spent on The Hill of Ward. Lot's more to share. If you wish to communicate, my email is grahams@gte.net.
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