Lughnasadh.

"lá lúnasa shona daoibh

Happy lughnasadh to you all."

This is the time to celebrate the years harvest, everything is in full bloom and mother nature is abundant.

Out ancient grandfather's and grandmother's celebrated the Óenoch Tailten or the Tailtian games at this time, the original Olympic games created by Lugh for his foster mother Tailtiu of Spain.

• The games started with a funeral pyre and funeral games to remember all who died during the year.

• Then there was a universal truce by everyone who attended.

• Then the games would begin, high/ long jump, horse racing, hurling, spear throwing etc

• The craft workers and musicians would show their skills.

• The festival would end with a mass handfasting for lovers who wished to be together for a year and a day and a mass divorse on the hill of separation.

Still in our resent history, the grain would be cut around Lughnasagh and it was seen as a battle between the divine feminine (earth) and man.

Still in our resent history, the grain would be cut around Lughnasagh and it was seen as a battle between the divine feminine (earth) and man.

Corn dollies and harvest knots would be made and the last handfull of corn/grain would be bunched together and hung above the kitchen table, this was called the "cailleach" to remember mother earth as she sleeps for winter, this corn would be planted again next year for luck and fertility.

Cailleach Bui/bhérra was the consort of Lugh, and between them they fostered 50 children and taught them magic and the laws of fairness.

So it's fitting to remember our cailleach at this time also.

Unfortunately there is little grain grown in ireland these days, but we can still keep this tradition going with plaited grasses and rushes.

Happy lughnasadh, it's been an interesting year. 

Carol

1st Aug 2020