Lammas Explained | Sacred Earth Medicine

Plus: how to celebrate it with Ceremonial Cacao!

Lammas or Lughnasadh is the first of the harvest festivals on the Celtic Wheel of the Year, literally falling halfway between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. Traditionally celebrated on February 1st in the Southern Hemisphere and August 1st in the North (though dates vary year to year). Lammas heralds an end to Summer and the beginning of the first harvest.

What does the word Lammas mean or refer to?

Lammas (meaning ‘loaf-mass’) evolved from the original Celtic festival Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-na-sa) . Lughnasadh is a cross quarter fire festival celebration of the sun god Lugh) and celebrates the corn or grain-mother and the harvesting of the first wheat fields. As such bread was baked from these blessed early grains in reverence to her bounty.

What are the themes and symbolism associated with Lammas?

With the fullness of Summer evident in the warm days, Lammas is still a time of abundance, prosperity, and growth. We can reflect on what’s come to fruition or transformed in our lives, and offer our heart’s gratitude to all the blessings we have received.

Representing change and the gathering of grains for winter and seeds for the next year, this is a time to embrace the transition from high summer to autumn's arrival. It is also an opportune time to give thanks to the all giving Goddess as Great Mother for her overflowing abundance.

Like all the Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year – this festival reminds us of the cyclical beauty of life’s continuous renewal. It is a beautiful occasion to connect with nature, honour the bounty of the Earth, and celebrate seasonal rhythms and the cycle of life.

Some simple ways to celebrate Lammas:

All of the following beautiful Lammas activities can be combined with Sacred Earth Medicine Ceremonial Cacao to enhance and deepen your celebration!

First, you can prepare, sip and enjoy your Sacred Earth Medicine Ceremonial Cacao just the way you like it. If the weather is still hot you may prefer to drink your cacao iced. You can keep things simple and sip your cacao mindfully. Or you may want to create your own cacao ceremony ritual. Then you will be primed to relish any of the following ideas:

Celebrate Lammas by baking breads and cakes with local harvested fruits and the first grains.
If possible, go berry or apple picking (or whatever kind of picking is available in your area). Celebrate the fresh fruits available at this time.
Enjoy the final days of Summer by spending time soaking in the sun’s rays. Take a picnic of locally harvested food and head to your favourite spot in nature.
Practice gratitude by spending time each day contemplating what you are thankful for.
Lush out with an abundant feast with friends and loved ones.
Reflect on the real and metaphoric seeds you planted at Imbolc. What has come to fruition and what is ready to fall away?
Learn to preserve food and get into the spirit of the harvest season.
Go on a nature walk and observe the changing seasons around you. Or try our Lammas Nature Communion Ritual.

The cacao will support and enrich your Lammas celebration, whatever it may be!