The Spiritual Meaning of Lughnasadh

At the cross-quarter date between the summer solstice and fall equinox, many modern pagans celebrate Lughnasadh. Learn more about this ancient Celtic harvest festival, and explore how to celebrate it yourself.

Lughnasadh (pronounced “LOO-nuh-suh”) is the first of three harvest festivals in the ancient Celtic tradition. The second one is Mabon, held at the autumnal equinox, and the final one is Samhain, held on either October 31 or November 1. Lughnasadh, which is usually celebrated on August 1, represents a cross-quarter day, the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox. This is the time to celebrate late summer grain; the Christian version of this festival is Lammas, or Loaf Mass Day, when the first bread of the harvest would be brought to church to be blessed. Keep reading…