Lammas: A Celebration of Abundance

While shorter days signify the ending of summer, they also signify one of my seasonal traditions – harvest feasts! Lammas, or Lughnasdah/Lughnasa, is the first harvest season in the wheel of the year and it occurs on August 1 – right in the middle of summer. It is a holiday rooted in Celtic Pagan traditions that is celebrated when the sun is in Leo.

Lammas is a associate with the first grain harvest, with it’s name translating quite literally to “loaf-mass” in Olde English (1). It is a time to celebrate abundance and ripening. We are experiencing the ripening of fruits and grains that will carry us through the winter months. Vegetables are in abundance and our bounties are filled to the brim with variety. For me this has physically manifested as loads of squash, buckwheat, and tomatoes which has made up the bulk of my diet.

In order to honor the first grain harvest, feasts are common to connect with the community and share in abundance and community. Foods traditional to your Lammas feast will depend on what is in season in your region – some sort of grain will be common as well as soft fruits such as berries and grapes. Breads and fermented grain/fruit drinks (such as beer, wine, and cider) are also staples for some people.

Me and my housemates elected to have a small COVID approved gathering with some of our closest friends. It was a potluck of sorts with everyone bringing a dish that felt seasonal to them. At the end of the evening I spent some time reflecting on the abundance with which I have been gifted this seasoning as well as what I hope to accomplish before the summer sun fades away. Some questions I asked myself:

What do I want to accomplish before the summer fire fades?
How have I received abundance this summer?
What do I want to receive in abundance through the rest of the summer?
How will I channel my creative efforts and knowledge to grow?
What “fruits” have been passively ripening within myself?

To share what I refelcted: Vermont has been filled with so much beauty and I have been so grateful for the way the community surrounding me has welcomed me into the fold. I am also so grateful for the variety of amazing place and people I have known in my life time. As the summer closes I hope to exercise my creative muscle for collective benefit and be open to receiving guidance where it is needed.

You can see the list of dishes and pictures below. All of the dishes I made will be linked to the recipes.