Uncover The Pagan Pageant Of Leo Season, And Rituals Forward Of The Harvest…
Also referred to as Lammas, August Eve, and Lúnasa, Lughnasadh is historically celebrated yearly on August 1st.
It is without doubt one of the 4 Hearth Festivals and the primary of three Harvest Festivals (the others being Autumn Equinox – Mabon – and Samhain).
In astrology, a date is rarely only a date it’s a diploma of the Zodiac, on this case, it’s 8º or 9º Leo.
When the Solar is round this diploma of any of the Mounted Indicators (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius), we consider its positioning between the equinoxes and solstices…
The astrological significance of Lughnasadh is that it’s the midpoint between Summer season Solstice and Autumn Equinox. When it comes to timing, it can be celebrated on the astronomical midpoint between the summer season solstice and autumn equinox (or on the closest Full Moon).
My Moodboard For A Lammas Picnic…
You possibly can learn extra in regards to the larger image, right here, however primarily, these are often called cross-quarter days, or the 4 Lunar Hearth Festivals, historic ceremonial holidays)…
The 4 Lunar Hearth Festivals – Or Cross Quarter Days – Are:
- Beltane (Might Eve) – 9º Taurus – Might 1st
- Lughnasadh (Lammas) – 9º Leo – August 1st
- Samhain (Hallowe’en) – 9º Scorpio – October Thirty first-November 2nd
- Imbolc (Candlemas) – 13º Aquarius – February 2nd-Seventh.
> Learn extra in regards to the Lunar Hearth Festivals, plus the Solstices and Equinoxes. <
So what are a few of the conventional customs related to this time and the way do they relate to Leo?
The First Grains Of The Season, And Late Fruits Of Summer season… Scroll down for the meals in season within the UK in August!
Within the pagan custom, the competition is related to Lugh, the God of Mild, and Lugh’s foster-mother Tailtiu, recognized for introducing agriculture to the Celtic individuals, and due to this fact the harvest.
Lugh was often called a terrific warrior, grasp craftsman, king, and a savior to the individuals.
The fields stuffed with grain, and the primary harvest is in movement, there was consuming, consuming, dancing, folks music, video games, and matchmaking, in addition to athletic and sporting contests (Leo likes to shine and exhibit, demonstrating their prowess!).
Festivities and feasting start at sundown the night earlier than; it is a celebration of thanksgiving (significantly for first fruits, grain and due to this fact bread). It’s a time to be pleased about the harvest that’s due, with symbolism to swimsuit. For instance:
- Baking a determine of the corn god in bread, after which symbolically sacrificing it by consuming
- Having fun with the early blueberry harvest, or blackberries that are actually ripening…
- Gathering along with household; particular meals had been made with the primary produce of the harvest; cornbread is a favourite presently. Within the Scottish Highlands, individuals made a particular cake referred to as the lunastain, which can have originated as an providing to the gods.
This festivity got here on the very first harvest, when power was very important and full, barely anticipating the significantly busy time of second harvest, a extra industrious time of labor and toil (a.okay.a Virgo Season).
This makes for an opportune second to have enjoyable and loosen up within the warmth, targeted on the abundance of the autumn months…
In fact, Leo Season is an excellent time to throw a celebration!
- Sporting Prowess – Tailtiu died of exhaustion whereas clearing the lands in preparation for planting; athletic competitions referred to as the Tailteann Video games had been enacted as a commemoration for her sacrifice; some say the video games are interesting to Lugh, others say it’s for Tailtiu.
- Being Playful & Romantic… Lughnasadh and Beltane had been considered the 2 most auspicious instances for handfasting…
- Lighting A Bonfire – giving due to the spirits and deities for the start of the harvest season, and providing prayers to not hurt the still-ripening crops.
Different Names…
Lughnasadh is an Irish-Gaelic phrase which interprets as “Commemoration of Lugh”, Lammas, which has an English-Christian translation of “loaf mass”, targeted on celebrating the grain harvest. In fashionable Irish it’s referred to as Lúnasa, in Scottish Gaelic: Lùnastal, and in Manx: Luanistyn.
Meals in Season within the UK in August…
- Greens:
artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, marrow, onions, pak choi, peas, peppers, potatoes (maincrop), radishes, rocket, runner beans, spring onions, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms.
- Fruits:
apricots, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, damsons, figs, greengages, loganberries, melons, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries.
- Herbs:
basil, chives, coriander, oregano, mint, parsley (curly), parsley (flat-leafed), rosemary, sage, sorrel, tarragon, thyme.
- Meats:
beef, lamb, rabbit, venison, wooden pigeon.
- Fish:
cod, coley, crab, dab, dover sole, gray mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, langoustine, lemon sole, mackerel, monkfish, pilchard, plaice, pollack, prawns, crimson mullet, salmon, sardines, scallops (queen), sea bass (wild), sea bream, sea trout, shrimp, squid, whelks.
Go to the primary web page to see all of the Pagan Festivals and their astrological ties, right here.