The harvest season is here and we have three fabulous holidays to celebrate the bounty. August 1st is the “official” kick-off for Lammas or Lunasa, Lughnasadh, and Freyfaxi. All three center around the first harvest of the grains.
The purpose is to honor the parent gods/goddess of fertility and thank them for the abundance by offering first fruits (grains) and drinks from the harvested crops.
We will look at each holiday, ways to celebrate, and magic that will resonate during this month.
Lammas VS Lughnasadh VS Freyfaxi
These three holidays are often celebrated together although they do have three distinct cultural origins. As modern pagans, we often celebrate them under one big harvest umbrella. Some people lean more into one than another. Wiccans may prefer Lammas, Irish Celts Lughnasadh, and the Norse are fans of Freyfaxi.
These holidays have much in common. They all:
Festivals to celebrate the harvest of grains
The first grain was cut and baked to honor the gods
Have its origins in agricultural pagan worship which honored the earth and her fertility
Their origins go back to ancient cultures in Western Europe
Celebrate one or all three in a way that suits your quest and pagan path. Keep reading for lots of celebration ideas and magic.
Where I live in the upper midwest corn is the main grain grown. And in my home state of Kentucky, they grow a lot of corn for whiskey (wink!) Photo by Ame Vanorio
Lammas
Lamas is the youngest of the summer harvest holidays. In the early days of Wiccan history, it was referred to as August Eve. While its roots delve into ancient pagan traditions, the modern version of Lamas is more of a Wiccan and Neopagan holiday.
Lamas is the first of the Wiccan harvest celebrations in the Wheel of the Year and occurs in early August (early February down under) which is the midpoint between summer and fall. You may also hear it called a cross-quarter day - halfway between the summer and autumn equinox.
The holiday is commemorated by baking a loaf of bread in the shape of a god.
August was a month for feasting, celebrating the harvest, and handfastings.
Christians regard this as a Christian holiday and refer to it as “loaf day”. This holiday of course originated from the pagan celebration and was an attempt to convert the heathens.
Lammas Correspondences:
Symbolic Meaning: Abundance, harvest, prosperity, transformation
Ruling Planet: Sun
Ruling Element: Fire
Season: Summer
Corresponding Star Sign: Leo
Plants: Barley, corn, sunflowers, squash blossoms
Herbs/Scents: Basil, calendula, frankincense, marigold, poppy, rosemary, rose, sandalwood
Animals/Mythological Creatures: Bees, Cow/Ox, Centaurs, Griffins, Horses, Pigs, Phoenix, Rooster, Salmon
Birds: Raven, Chickens
Colors: Brown, green orange, yellow
Gemstone: Adventurine, carnelian, obsidian, tiger’s eye.
Tools: bonfires, corn dollies, garden tools, spear, scythe,
Deities: Ceres, Cerridwen, Isis, Lugh
Horses are an important symbol of Norse paganism. The Icelandic chieftain Hrafnkel was said to own a horse named Freyfaxi whom he dedicated to the God Freyr. This is my horse Rocket. Photo by Ame Vanorio
Who Is Lugh?
The Celts celebrated the god Lugh with the festival of Lughnasadh. Lugh, sometimes called Lug, is the God of light and sun.
Lugh is celebrated during August along with his mother Tailtiu, Goddess of Earth. Together they represent the abundance of the harvest, strength, and endurance.
Who is John Barleycorn?
Many of us who are Americans may be unfamiliar with John Barleycorn, a traditional Scottish folk song about a man named John Barleycorn. A famous poem was written about him by Robert Burns in 1782.
The song describes him as a representation of barley and the resulting beer describes his suffering, death, and resurrection. This metaphor demonstrates the spirit of the healthy grain in summer, which is then chopped down and “killed”, only to be resurrected again in the beer.
Written versions of the song are quite old, dating back to 1568, but Barleycorn represents a more modern version of the God Beowa. Beowa is the Celtic god of barley and agriculture.
Many neo-pagans today look upon Lugh as representing John Barleycorn as the living spirit of the grain.
Lammas Magick
Appreciating what our Earth does for our lives
Reinforcing long-term spellwork
Visualize yourself completing a project you’ve started
astrology, prosperity, generosity, continued success, good fortune, abundance, magickal picnic, meditate &
Sweeping is a natural gathering motion. Learn how to make a besom (witches broom) in our article The Celtic Month of Ash.
Mint is one of the most revered herbs among the Druids and is wonderful for working protection spells. Mint represents abundance and works well in prosperity spells. Mint is easy to grow and you can place a small plant on your altar.
Check out my video below on my Lammas Altar!
This video shows the altar that I created for Lammas ~ Ame
Lammas And Freyfaxi Feasting
This is a time for celebrating the harvest so feasting is a big part of the celebration! Eating and drinking together bring us closer and build community.
***This is also a great time to give to homeless shelters and food pantries. You might even volunteer to serve food to people in need.
*** Support local farmers by purchasing foods for your feast at a local farmers’ market
Some good foods for your celebration include:
Grains - barley, corn, oats, wheat
Cider, ale, beer, whiskey, mead
Bread - baking bread is a great activity to get in touch with your kitchen witch
Honey - beekeeping is a great way to get in touch with nature
Mushrooms - forage for wild mushrooms
Berries, grapes and nuts
Pies and cobblers
Potatoes
Summer squash
Reflection
This is a great time for introspection and reflection. Ask yourself:
What am I harvesting in my life right now?
What seeds can I “sow” to help me grow in the following season?
Where can I help others - humans or animals?
What can I do to contribute to my community?
Freyfaxi
Farther north the Norse honored Freyr
Also referred to as Hlæfæst or Freysblöt, Freyfaxi is one of the eight major holidays celebrated by Asatru Norse Pagans.
Celebrate Freyfaxi:
Honor the landvaetr (nature guardian spirits)
Omnivores can cook pork in honor of Freyr
Visit a farmers market for fresh produce to give to Freya
Sif, goddess of grain and harvest is also honored
Toast to the deities and honor them during your meal. Mead, wine, or non-alcoholic cider all work well as offerings.
Have a bonfire or simply grill out in the backyard.
Other Deities Associated With Harvest
There are other deities associated with the harvest that you may wish to honor during this time.
Ceres and Demeter
Ceres is the Roman Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, and Motherhood. She watched over the grain growing in the fields. She is represented by oxen who plow the fields. Her main festival is held in April (Ceresalia) and features horse races.
Demeter is her Greek equivalent, an Earth Goddess who guides the planting and harvesting of crops and brings fertility to the soil.
Dagon (Phoenician Grain God)
Festival of Green Corn (Native American)
Isis
Selu: The First Cherokee Woman
Author, Ame Vanorio is the founder of CPH, a lifelong pagan, teacher, and environmental educator as well as an organic gardener. And horse lover!!
Pomona was a popular minor Roman goddess often known as the goddess of apples. Her day is celebrated on August 13th.