Tailltean Marriages
In Irish Gaelic, Lammas was referred to as 'Lugnasadh', a feast to commemorate the funeral games of the Irish sun-god Lugh. However, it is not Lugh's death that is being celebrated, but the funeral games which Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte. That is why the Lugnasadh celebrations in Ireland are often called the 'Tailltean Games'.
One common feature of the Games were the 'Tailltean Marriages', a rather informal marriage that lasted for only 'a year and a day' or until next Lammas. At that time, the couple could decide to continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or to stand back to back and walk away from one another, thus bringing the Tailltean marriage to a formal close.
Such trial marriages (obviously related to the Wiccan 'Handfasting') were quite common even into the 1500's, although it was something one 'didn't bother the parish priest about'. Indeed, such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a poet, bard, or priest or priestess of the Old Religion.
Feast of Bread
Lammas is also known as The Feast of Bread, at which the first of the grain harvest is consumed in ritual loaves.
The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas ', meaning 'loaf-mass ', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar.
For most of the Western Hemisphere, the beginning of August is the earliest one can reasonably expect to begin harvest of the spring wheat (as opposed to winter wheat, a relatively new agricultural breakthrough). One of the old traditions for Lughnasaad was that the King of Tara hosted a feast containing one product of the land from each province of his kingdom. This not only showed that his reign was prosperous, but also his thanksgiving for the upcoming harvest. This is a festival giving thanks for the goodness we are about to receive.
As part of this thanksgiving, process, the first sheaves of ripe grain were hand-ground and baked into a loaf of bread and shared by all members of the community. The loaves were shaped into forms symbolising things like the God of Harvest, the Goddess, the wheel of the year, or simply round, with the shape of a stalk or sheaf of wheat etched into the top. We continue this process today, although not necessarily with the first sheaves of harvest. Freshly baked bread is still a central part of many Lammas celebrations.
Lughnassadh
Lughnassadh honours the Celtic Solar God Lugh and may also have some association with the Roman Moon Goddess, Luna. Lugh was a God of harvest, fire, light and sun. He was King of the Tuatha De Danaan and the consort of Dana, the first Great Mother Goddess of Ireland. Dana, as Lugh's Queen and Mother Goddess, is also honoured on this Sabbat.
Lugh's sacrificial death and rebirth as a sheaf of grain at Lughnasadh is often re-enacted on Lammas, symbolising that even a God must eventually bow down to his Goddess through whose benevolence he is reborn.
Lughnassadh celebrates the triumph of Lugh over his arch rival Balor. In one legend (and there are many of them), Balor was a Sun god, and, after his defeat, he descended into the underworld to heal. This is the reason that the days have begun to visibly wane at this time.
Elemental Importance of Bread
Freshly baked bread is still a central part of many Lammas celebrations.
It is not just the wheat that is important. Bread is elemental. Earth, air, fire, and water combine in a substance that has nourished people for time out of mind.
Bread combines seeds from the earth (flour), with water, the substance that makes up most of our being. Add in salt, the purifier, and yeast, the sacred changer of the gods, the secret, airborne traveller who changes rotten grapes,,, into wine.
Mix all of these together, kneading the dough to shape and form. Finally, add fire to bake.
Suddenly, from those four ancient, basic elements, you have bread. It is no wonder it is called the staff of life!
Catherine Wheel
A ceremonial highlight of Lammas festivals was the 'Catherine Wheel'. Although the Roman Church moved St. Catherine's feast day all around the calender with bewildering frequency, it's most popular date was Lammas.
(They also kept trying to expel this much-loved saint from the ranks of the blessed because she was mythical rather than historical, and because her worship gave rise to the heretical sect known as the Cathari.)
At any rate, a large wagon wheel was taken to the top of a near-by hill, covered with tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill.
Some mythologists see in this ritual the remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the flaming disk representing the sun-god in his decline. And just as the sun king has now reached the autumn of his years, his rival or dark self has just reached puberty.
updated January 27, 2000
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