Other names: Laa Luanistyn or Laa Luanys (Manx), Lughnasadh or Lúnasa (Modern Irish), Lúnasdain, Lúnasdal or Lunasduinn (Scottish Gaelic), Calan Awst (Welsh). Also Lammas(33).
The feast of Lugh is the first harvest; it should be remembered that Lugh wrestled the secrets of agriculture from Bres when the Tuatha De Danann won the Second Battle of Magh Turedh; he is the multi-talented hero of the gods, and winner of the war in heaven. He is the supporter of sovereignty (but not sovereignty itself). It is through his efforts that man can survive, can plant. He is the “renaissance man” of the gods, thus being the only one who can take on the powers of chaos.
On the Coligny calendar, the day would fall during Edrinios; elsewhere on the calendar, the name of the month was Ćdrinios, likely meaning "end of the heat", from aid meaning "fire". In Christian practice, the day is Lammas—loaf mass. The beginning of the harvest starts now; my mother’s summer squash and corn ripens, and we can take part in the first fruits of our labor.
It’s also the time of summer games; a time to take a break from work and enjoy the summer. Myth says Lugh instituted the oenach Taltien in honor of his foster-mother Tailtiu, upon whose hill the festival was held; it’s also a good time of year to enjoy outdoor sports in the sun.
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Mary Jones © 2004