Lammas
(February 2nd)

Lammas is the time of the 1st harvest.  The God is now the embodiment of wisdom as the grandfather, the Goddess is the mother/Gaia.  The Goddess has gifted all on the land a bountiful harvest with abundance.

The Lammas Altar

• Decorate with the colours present in nature at this time
• Place harvest foods on the altar (fruit, grains)
• Baked goods ideally created with the harvest foods​
• Incorporate the God Lugh the Celtic craftsman
• Ears of corn
• Grapes &/or wine
• ​Berries
• Iron tools of a craftsman
• Flowers of the season
• Grass braids
• Root veg - carrots, turnips, beets etc
• ​Any other items you would normally use if you want

Incense

• Sandalwood
• Patchouli Leaf
• Rosemary

     Mix all dried plant parts together and burn small amounts on coal tablets.  Be warned that plant material smells very different when burnt and is sometimes not as pleasant as you might expect.  If you don't want to burn them place them in a small wooden bowl and use as an altar or table decoration.  ​

Family Activities

• Watch the sun rise & sun set.
• Make herbal teas from herbs grown in your garden
• Harvest vegetables & herbs
• Pick berries
• Make offering stones (painted stones)
• Bake bread
• Star gaze
• Spend time in nature exploring your environment
• Make drums
• Hold a drum circle

Essential Oils

     Always use true essential oils and essential oil mixes when working with energies as these carry the right vibration for the purpose.  Fragrant oils won't work as well & can be very harsh.
     To make a simple Lammas mix put two drops each of the following in 10ml of carrier oil (Jojoba, grapeseed, olive oil) then shake well.

• Sandalwood
• Patchouli
• Rosemary​

Ritual

Tools & Items You Will Need

• Seasonal foods & herbs to be used in the feast
• God & Goddess Statues or Candles to Represent Them
• A Bell
• A Yellow Candle
• Flowers (we use silk substitutes)
• Cornmeal or a house blessing oil
• Wine or Juice

When You Are Ready to Begin

• We usually hold our ritual after the children arrive home from school, during the mid afternoon.  
• We prepare a feast (as with all festivals food is an integral part).  
• When this is done have everyone gather round the altar or the feast table.  
• Make your craft projects.
• Clear the table & set the feast.​

     The following steps are only a short version of the festival, it is the way our household celebrates Lammas, there are many more formal & longer versions of rituals that can be performed for this festival.   Check out the Helpful Links for books that might be helpful.

Steps

1. Perform the ritual of casting the circle.
2. Have the incense burning in the background.
3. Place the candles, harvest foods, flowers, wine or juice, cauldron of water, God & Goddess representations on the altar/table.
4. Ring a bell.
5. Light the candles representing the God & the Goddess.
6. Recite: Welcome to the season of Lammas, the time bountiful plenty & abundance of the harvest gifted to us by the Goddess for those of the land.
7. Join hands with all in attendance.
8. Recite: We dance & sprial, celebrate the gifts & honour the womb of the Goddess.  (Move in a circle around the altar/table).
9. Stop when you have completed a full circle around the table & ring the bell.
10. Hold your hands over the bread.
11. Recite: We are thankful for the bounty or the harvest gifted to us by the Goddess.
12. Light the Yellow Candle.  
13. Close the circle with the closing part of the casting circle ritual.
14. Begin the feast