LUGHNASADH
I have not added any feasts for awhile, so I thought I would share my feats from August 1st. It was Lughnasadh. It is the first harvest feast. It honors the Celtic god, Lugh. It is a celebration of the the first harvest (early crops), community gatherings and athletic games. The food is grain based (breads, cobbler etc), berries and early garden items such as zucchini, summer squash and new potatoes. I made a pizza in the shape of a man (bread is usually shaped for the god), I simply use pizza dough. I cooked up some salt potatoes and made sausage stuffed zucchini. I added grilled asparagus sprinkled with parm. For desert I made a raspberry coolie to go over an angel food cake and a berry cobbler with raspberries and blackberries.
We invited my sister and my son's friend, to add to the party. We also ended the daylight hours playing Bocci.
"Lugh: The God of the First Harvest "
To truly understand Lughnasadh, you must understand Lugh. He is one of the most complex and compelling figures in the Celtic pantheon — not a simple harvest god, not merely a sun deity, but something far more layered. Lugh is Lugh Lámhfhada — Lugh of the Long Hand — a title that speaks to his reach, his skill, and his mastery over distance and craft.
When Lugh arrived at the hall of the Tuatha Dé Danann and asked to be admitted, the doorkeeper asked what skill he brought. Lugh named one craft. The doorkeeper said they already had a master of that craft. Lugh named another. Same answer. He named every skill he possessed — warrior, harper, poet, sorcerer, craftsman, historian, hero — and each time was told they had no need of another master. Finally Lugh asked: "Do you have anyone who is master of all of them at once?"
The doors opened.
Lugh is the God of mastery, craft, skill, light, and the harvest sun. He is the one who holds all things together — the generalist who transcends specialization, the light that makes all growth possible. At Lughnasadh, we honor not just the harvest of the fields but the harvest of our own skills, our own work, our own creative output.
The themes of Lughnasadh:
- First harvest — reaping what you planted at Imbolc and tended through spring
- Sacrifice — the grain must die to become bread; what must you release?
- Gratitude — genuine, embodied thanks for what the earth and your own effort have produced
- Skill and mastery — honoring Lugh by honoring your own craft
- The turning light — the sun is still strong but the days are shortening; the dark is coming
- Discernment — not everything that grew deserves to be harvested; some things must be composted
- Community — Lughnasadh was historically a time of games, fairs, and gathering; connection matters
- Transformation — grain becomes bread; raw becomes nourished; effort becomes result
Ask yourself as you approach this sabbat: What have I built this year? What am I proud of?
What needs to be cut before it drains the rest of the harvest?"
Do not tell me I should turn to "God"
Do not disparage my choice of spiritualism
Do not pick fights with others
It has been awhile since I have shared.
I was wondering about that, was soon going to ask the R.A. about you.
Life has been really kicking my ass for the last year or so. It's just nice to come here and see my friends.
It's nice to see you too.
Th food looks delicious. Lugh sounds like an interesting fella.
Thanks for sharing!
I would've commented earlier, but I saw the pictures and had to go raid the fridge for a bit ...
I'm heading off to the western slope next month to remind my sister and mother why I live 300 miles from them and OD on my sister's tomato crop.
I avoid most family ( I have 5 siblings and am only in contact with my sister). Both of my parents have passed, but am still contact with my step mom and her son.
I hope your trip is pleasant.
Morning Vangy..
Did you say slope???
As in skiing???, as in going fast???, as in maybe going over a cliff???
... as in the other side of the mountains, you bloody ratbag. don't forget to tie a steak to each appendage before going surfing.
Morning...you mob are strange..slope as in other side of the mountains??..🤣
I prefer my definition...
At least our steak is tariff free plenty to go around and it's all ours..
For a minute there I was living in hope.. this may have been you on the slope..😁
I stopped skiing when the lift ticket exceeded $30 and there was too many bloody wankers on the slopes ...
Wankers on the slopes!!...
Wouldn't have thought you would have any probs fitting right in..
$30 bucks..geez talk about short arms and longs pockets..
I don't even know how much they want to look like a complete tool while waiting in a mile long line to ride a floating chair up to the top of a frigid mountain now, but I quit skiing when it exceeded $5 per run, and I skied hard. from the top to the bottom, all day long, only broken up by weed fueled chairlift rides.
nothing like flying over a ridge to get that feeling of falling off a mountain while your skis are only a foot off the snow for 50 yards.
Morning...sounds a bit like me on my red surf mat after being dumped by a wave..😁
Ahhh the great outdoors..
I've noticed that breaking bones isn't as common while next to a beach. I broke my left ankle when I was 14 snow skiing. I've racked myself up a few times water skiing, but landing on water is much more preferable than landing on packed snow.
Arvo..ahh you have got me on that one..no idea what packed snow is like, but assume it's not soft and fluffy like you see on TV..🤣
powder snow is soft and fluffy like you see on TV, but after the slope grooming machines and a few thousand skiers have passed over it, the packed snow gets a bit harder. if it's a wet snow and then it freezes, then it's like concrete ...
This year Pizza Man (Lugh) stayed in one piece. Last year he came out of the pan in sections.
Good eating and good times
Very good. Thank you for stopping by.
Morning...That looks great certainly could scoff some of that off..
Feels a bit odd talking harvest etc as we head into Spring...
Thanks for the info and photos.. always good to see how the other half live..
I love the Fall, but it is also the dread of Winter arrives.
Fall is my favorite time of year.
As I have gotten older I have come to appreciate the Fall so much more. The sights & smells. I really enjoy it all.
Its my favourite season too. For the same reasons.
Also I find it to be very invigorating.