Post by Melissa Love on Aug 14, 2014 20:33:31 GMT -8
History of Lughasadh
Lughnasadh was a Celtic festival originally celebrated on the Holly Moon (July 8th to August 5th) marking the symbolism of the days starting to go darker and darker in the wheel of the year according to the Colligney Calendar dated 1AD in France.
It is named after the God Lugh, who is known by many names from his many talents: Lámhfhada, meaning “long hand” for his skill with the spear and sling; Samhildánach, meaning "Equally skilled in many arts"; Lonnbeimnech meaning "fierce striker".
As a boy, Lugh wanted to join the formidable warriors of Tuatha Dé Danann. This group was the most famous fighting force and protector of the king of Ireland. To do so, he travelled to Tára. The doorman, seeing how young he was, didn’t let him in until he demonstrated a skill that was “fit for the king”. He demonstrated his skills as a wright, a smith, a champion, a swordsman, a harpist, a hero, a poet and historian, a sorcerer and a craftsman. Each time, the doorman said that they already had a warrior with each one of those skills. But when Lugh said, “Can any of your warriors do these skills simultaneously?”, the doorman had to admit defeat and let him into Tára to join the warriors and was appointed the title of Chief Ollam of Ireland or Chief Bard. After a while of being involved with the Tuatha Dé Danann and gaining favour among his peers with his many skills, he is given command of the whole army and ends up leading them to victory over the Fomorians, another army that was oppressing the Tuatha Dé Danann for quite some time.
This story celebrates how the celts honoured people of many skills and talents. Lugh and his ability to be the bard among his people, gained knowledge and wisdom travelling about and was loved by all. Everyone has their preferences and Lugh could make each happy.
His foster mother, Tailtiu, is also honoured as a goddess of grain and harvest. She died of exhaustion while clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Lugh started a kind of Olympic games that ended on the First full moon of August that focused on horse races, martial arts displays and any other talents that people had to honour her death. Lughnasadh, itself is a celebration of Lugh’s Triumph over the spirits of the Otherworld trying to keep all the grain for themselves after the first harvest. For this reason, the sacred day of Lughnasadh is first marked with a battle of Light (Lugh) and Darkness (the other realms).
This gives us the meaning of the corn and grain harvest to this sacred day. It was a mark in evolution for Ireland to start agriculture and this is a step to a more advanced culture. We celebrate with corn and bread, with games of skill and obstacle courses to show off our talents and to acknowledge the fact that our days are getting shorter, welcoming the coming darkness. We worked all year long and it is time to reap the benefits of our strife. We come together to celebrate our work not only for food but for practising many arts such as music, poetry, painting and song as Lugh was famous for. On this day we honour all the bards at heart.
Lughnasadh was a Celtic festival originally celebrated on the Holly Moon (July 8th to August 5th) marking the symbolism of the days starting to go darker and darker in the wheel of the year according to the Colligney Calendar dated 1AD in France.
It is named after the God Lugh, who is known by many names from his many talents: Lámhfhada, meaning “long hand” for his skill with the spear and sling; Samhildánach, meaning "Equally skilled in many arts"; Lonnbeimnech meaning "fierce striker".
As a boy, Lugh wanted to join the formidable warriors of Tuatha Dé Danann. This group was the most famous fighting force and protector of the king of Ireland. To do so, he travelled to Tára. The doorman, seeing how young he was, didn’t let him in until he demonstrated a skill that was “fit for the king”. He demonstrated his skills as a wright, a smith, a champion, a swordsman, a harpist, a hero, a poet and historian, a sorcerer and a craftsman. Each time, the doorman said that they already had a warrior with each one of those skills. But when Lugh said, “Can any of your warriors do these skills simultaneously?”, the doorman had to admit defeat and let him into Tára to join the warriors and was appointed the title of Chief Ollam of Ireland or Chief Bard. After a while of being involved with the Tuatha Dé Danann and gaining favour among his peers with his many skills, he is given command of the whole army and ends up leading them to victory over the Fomorians, another army that was oppressing the Tuatha Dé Danann for quite some time.
This story celebrates how the celts honoured people of many skills and talents. Lugh and his ability to be the bard among his people, gained knowledge and wisdom travelling about and was loved by all. Everyone has their preferences and Lugh could make each happy.
His foster mother, Tailtiu, is also honoured as a goddess of grain and harvest. She died of exhaustion while clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Lugh started a kind of Olympic games that ended on the First full moon of August that focused on horse races, martial arts displays and any other talents that people had to honour her death. Lughnasadh, itself is a celebration of Lugh’s Triumph over the spirits of the Otherworld trying to keep all the grain for themselves after the first harvest. For this reason, the sacred day of Lughnasadh is first marked with a battle of Light (Lugh) and Darkness (the other realms).
This gives us the meaning of the corn and grain harvest to this sacred day. It was a mark in evolution for Ireland to start agriculture and this is a step to a more advanced culture. We celebrate with corn and bread, with games of skill and obstacle courses to show off our talents and to acknowledge the fact that our days are getting shorter, welcoming the coming darkness. We worked all year long and it is time to reap the benefits of our strife. We come together to celebrate our work not only for food but for practising many arts such as music, poetry, painting and song as Lugh was famous for. On this day we honour all the bards at heart.
I finally made it!