Lammas Lore and Rite
Pronounciation: LA-mahs
Date: August 1sr (although some observe July 31st instead)
Other Names: August Eve, Harvest Home, Lughnasadh, Lunasa
The beginning of Autumn and the first of the harvest festivals, when the earliest crops are ready to be brought in for storage for the Winter months still ahead. It is now that the God begins His descent, makes His first sacrifice for the people and the land, and also to honor all that His Mother, the Goddess, has thus given. Her belly continues to swell with both bounty as the crops come in, and with child as She carries He Who will be the Winter-Born King. "Lammas" comes from Gaelic, meaning "loaf mass," a feast of bread made from the freshly gathered wheat. Symbols of this Sabbat range from grapevines and apples, to cornstalks and sheaves of wheat, to cornucopias, to the first of the changing leaves.
LAMMAS RITUAL
Needed is a loaf of bread, if possible in the shape of a man.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
PS: WHEN WE THINK OF BOUNTY, WE OFTEN HAVE VISIONS OF SPRING, THE BEGINNING OF LIFE. BUT AUTUMN TOO HAS ITS REWARDS, AS WE REAP WHAT WAS SOWN AFTER SUMMER’S GROWING SEASON. AND SO, IT IS ON THIS DAY THAT WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST HARVEST!
P: THIS IS THE SEASON OF FRUITFULNESS! THE SUN KING HAS RIPENED GRAPE AND APPLE, GOURD AND GRAIN. WITHIN EACH OF THESE SACRIFICES NATURE GIVES US, OUR MOTHER HAS PLACED THE SEEDS OF NEW GROWTH, A REMINDER OF THE UNENDING CYCLE.
PS lifts loaf over her head.
PS: BEHOLD! THE GRAIN HAS BECOME THE BREAD THAT SHALL FEED US SO THAT WE MAY CARRY ON TO PLANT AGAIN! THE LORD OF THE GRAIN NOW LEADS US ALL IN THE DANCE!
PS stands with loaf while P leads dance. All sing.
Listen here if you are unfamiliar with this song.
ALL: OATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY GROW
DANCING GOD AMONG THE ROWS
HE SHALL FALL WITH OLD SCARECROW
SO OATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY GROW!
If this is a Group rite, PS calls “DOWN,” energy directed to bread. P then takes the bread and distributes it to each.
If this is a Solitary rite, simply hold up the bread. Replace "my" with "His" as appropriate.
P: THIS IS MY BODY YOU EAT. TAKE ME INTO YOURS SO THAT I MAY LIVE AGAIN. QUICKEN MY SPIRIT WITH YOUR VITALITY, AS I GIVE MY LIFE INTO YOUR HANDS. BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Now to Cakes and Wine, sharing the bread as part of the libation and feast.
Date: August 1sr (although some observe July 31st instead)
Other Names: August Eve, Harvest Home, Lughnasadh, Lunasa
The beginning of Autumn and the first of the harvest festivals, when the earliest crops are ready to be brought in for storage for the Winter months still ahead. It is now that the God begins His descent, makes His first sacrifice for the people and the land, and also to honor all that His Mother, the Goddess, has thus given. Her belly continues to swell with both bounty as the crops come in, and with child as She carries He Who will be the Winter-Born King. "Lammas" comes from Gaelic, meaning "loaf mass," a feast of bread made from the freshly gathered wheat. Symbols of this Sabbat range from grapevines and apples, to cornstalks and sheaves of wheat, to cornucopias, to the first of the changing leaves.
LAMMAS RITUAL
Needed is a loaf of bread, if possible in the shape of a man.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
PS: WHEN WE THINK OF BOUNTY, WE OFTEN HAVE VISIONS OF SPRING, THE BEGINNING OF LIFE. BUT AUTUMN TOO HAS ITS REWARDS, AS WE REAP WHAT WAS SOWN AFTER SUMMER’S GROWING SEASON. AND SO, IT IS ON THIS DAY THAT WE CELEBRATE THE FIRST HARVEST!
P: THIS IS THE SEASON OF FRUITFULNESS! THE SUN KING HAS RIPENED GRAPE AND APPLE, GOURD AND GRAIN. WITHIN EACH OF THESE SACRIFICES NATURE GIVES US, OUR MOTHER HAS PLACED THE SEEDS OF NEW GROWTH, A REMINDER OF THE UNENDING CYCLE.
PS lifts loaf over her head.
PS: BEHOLD! THE GRAIN HAS BECOME THE BREAD THAT SHALL FEED US SO THAT WE MAY CARRY ON TO PLANT AGAIN! THE LORD OF THE GRAIN NOW LEADS US ALL IN THE DANCE!
PS stands with loaf while P leads dance. All sing.
Listen here if you are unfamiliar with this song.
ALL: OATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY GROW
DANCING GOD AMONG THE ROWS
HE SHALL FALL WITH OLD SCARECROW
SO OATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY GROW!
If this is a Group rite, PS calls “DOWN,” energy directed to bread. P then takes the bread and distributes it to each.
If this is a Solitary rite, simply hold up the bread. Replace "my" with "His" as appropriate.
P: THIS IS MY BODY YOU EAT. TAKE ME INTO YOURS SO THAT I MAY LIVE AGAIN. QUICKEN MY SPIRIT WITH YOUR VITALITY, AS I GIVE MY LIFE INTO YOUR HANDS. BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Now to Cakes and Wine, sharing the bread as part of the libation and feast.