According to Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes, Lughnasadh used to be a festival that lasted for 4 weeks. It took place during the last 2 weeks of July and the first 2 weeks of August. This festival roughly corresponded to when the sun was in Leo.
What is Lughnasadh and why do we celebrate it?
This is when the sun is its most powerful. Modern neopagans like Wiccans mostly celebrate Lughnasadh solely on the evening of July 31st and on the day of August 1st. Traditionally, this is the start of autumn. That doesn’t mean the hot days are over! Even in Michigan, it remains hot until October.
What is Lughnasadh (Lammas)?
Named after a pagan god named Lugh, Lughnasadh is also known as Lammas (from “Loaf Mass”), so named for the loaves of bread made from the first fruits of the newly harvested wheat and brought to church, in what some take to be a “Christianized” adoption of an older pagan traditional practice.
What is the difference between Imbolc and Lughnasadh?
Lughnasadh, halfway between the summer solstice and the fall or autumnal equinox (which, in the Southern Hemisphere, begins on or about today, Feb 2), is Imbolc’s polar opposite, marking the beginning of the fall harvest season.
