Lammas is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd August, it is now considered to be part of the Christian calendar, but this celebration goes back to the pagan era and continues today.
Like many celebrations of its kind, Lammas is connected to the Moon cycles and it celebrates the first grain. Lammas meaning ‘Loaf Mass’ it is symbolic of the first harvest grain creating bread for the community.
Areas across the world celebrate this moment but they will focus on their own Deities within their own religious beliefs or by simply focusing on the food celebration without the focus on Deities at all. (You will likely notice many food festivals around this time of year).
On the Witches and/or Pagan calendar the focus is on the Grain Mother, she comes in many forms through Deities such as Ceres/ Demeter and Persephone (amongst others), all coming from a representation of mother, of harvest, of life and magic.
The Grain Mother is depicted as heavily pregnant, symbolic of her carrying the seed of the Sun God for the new Year within her.
The story goes that with the cutting of the grain, the God will die, and the Grain Mother (the Goddess) will birth a new God ready for next years harvest. This God like the Grain Mother has many names, the Green Man, the Sun God, the God of the Harvest amongst others.
These days its valuable to acknowledge such celebrations and to remember where our food is coming from and to be grateful for that.
As a witch I like to perform abundance spells around this time and you can do the same in the comfort of your own home to help bring forward positive energy and luck for the months ahead.
Abundance Spell for you to try in your home:
Take some mint (ideally fresh – you can buy this from most supermarkets or pick your own)
Take a green or natural coloured ribbon (or something similar like string or twine) and tie it around the stem of the mint.
Place or hang this in your home.
It will become dry over time and you can either leave it on display or bury it in a garden, plant pot or somewhere suitable for you. (Burying it will allow any abundance left to continue as you are symbolically sowing the seed of your own desires).
I hope you enjoyed learning about the Lammas celebration!
Best wishes,
Martina x
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