Lammas: Gratitude for the First Harvest

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is a pagan first harvest festival celebrated around August 1 in the Northern Hemisphere (and around February 1 in the Southern Hemisphere). As the Wheel of the Year turns toward late summer, Lammas marks the beginning of the grain harvest – a time when the fields offer up their bounty of wheat, corn, and barley. This Sabbat's name "Lammas" comes from "loaf-mass," reflecting the tradition of baking the first loaf of bread from the new grain. Lughnasadh, on the other hand, honors the Celtic god Lugh. According to lore, Lugh established this festival in remembrance of his foster mother Tailtiu, who died after clearing Ireland's fields for agriculture. Whether you call it Lammas or Lughnasadh, this witchcraft harvest festival centers on abundance, community, and giving thanks for Mother Earth's generosity.

In the traditional agrarian cycle, Lammas is the gratitude-filled celebration of the first harvest. It is the first of three harvest Sabbats (with Mabon and Samhain to follow), focusing on gathering grains and early fruits. By Lammas, golden sheaves of wheat stand ready in the fields and the garden's earliest produce is ripe. In many ancient communities, the first sheaf of grain was ceremonially cut, baked into a sacred loaf, and offered back to the land or deity in thanks – a symbolic sacrifice to ensure the rest of the crops would prosper. The last sheaf might be fashioned into a corn dollie representing the spirit of the harvest, kept or buried until the next planting season as a charm for renewed abundance. These traditions remind us that harvest is a cycle of receiving and giving: we reap the rewards of hard work and also set aside seeds (literal or figurative) for the future.

For modern witches and pagans, Lammas is an opportunity to pause and reflect on what we have "harvested" in our lives so far this year. It's a time to celebrate results, however big or small – the projects completed, personal growth achieved, or lessons learned. Just as farmers survey the yield of their fields, we can look at the intentions we planted earlier in the year and see what is coming to fruition. Gratitude is the key theme of Lammas. By acknowledging and thanking the Earth and Spirit for our abundance, we align ourselves with the cycle of nature's generosity. This gratitude also carries an undercurrent of trust that more will continue to come as the year progresses.

One of the most beloved Lammas traditions is baking bread from the first grain harvest. Many practitioners bake a special loaf (often a round or braided loaf symbolizing the sun or the wheel of the year) and bless it as part of their Lammas ritual. Sharing this bread with family, coven, or friends – or even offering a piece to the land/wildlife – is a meaningful act of thanks. The simple act of baking becomes a sacred ritual when done with intention, infusing the bread with prayers of gratitude and abundance.

Lammas is a joyous time for gathering in celebration. Historically, it was marked by great feasts, fairs, dancing, and even athletic games or competitions in honor of Lugh. Today, you might host a Lughnasadh celebration in the form of a picnic or potluck. Invite fellow pagans or loved ones to bring dishes made from seasonal produce (fresh baked goods, corn on the cob, berry jams, etc.). As you dine together, take turns sharing what blessings you are grateful for. This "gratitude circle" transforms a meal into a powerful communal ritual of thanks. If you are a solitary practitioner, you can still prepare yourself a celebratory harvest meal – perhaps a hearty stew with garden vegetables, a loaf of bread, and a cup of cider or mead – and mindfully enjoy it in honor of the season.

Because Lammas is all about giving thanks to the Earth, making offerings is a common practice. You can pour out a bit of ale, wine, or milk on the ground as a traditional offering, or leave some bread, fruits, or herbs as a gift for the nature spirits (just be sure any offerings are eco-friendly). Some witches like to find a sacred outdoor spot – such as a field, a garden, or under a favorite tree – and perform a simple thank-you ritual there. For example, you might gather a small bundle of wheat or wildflowers, speak words of gratitude, and leave the bundle on the earth as a token of appreciation.

In witchcraft, using seasonal correspondences for a Sabbat can deepen your connection to its energy. Here are some key correspondences for Lammas:

To truly capture the spirit of Lammas, consider performing a simple yet powerful Lammas ritual centered around baking bread. This is both a recipe and a ritual, suitable for practitioners of all levels. As you create this offering of gratitude, you embody the ancient tradition of honoring the first harvest.

Begin by gathering your ingredients with intention. As you mix the dough, stir clockwise to honor the Sun's life-giving energy. When kneading, infuse each push and fold with gratitude, naming your blessings aloud or in your heart. The tactile connection with the dough becomes a meditation on abundance.

Shape your loaf with purpose—perhaps as a round sun symbol or braided to represent life's interconnectedness. While it bakes, filling your home with that ineffable aroma of possibility, sit in contemplation of all you've harvested in your life.

When complete, break this sacred bread with loved ones or enjoy it in solitude, savoring each bite as communion with the earth's generosity. Remember, the perfection lies not in the appearance of your loaf, but in the sincerity of your gratitude.

Lammas is ultimately a celebration of gratitude – a time to acknowledge the fruits of our labor and the blessings that surround us. As witches and spiritual folk, when we mark this first harvest festival, we're doing more than just keeping an old tradition alive; we are actively participating in the cycle of nature. By thanking the earth now, we strengthen our bond with the land and its rhythms. By sharing our abundance (whether literal food or sharing knowledge, love, and kindness), we invite even more abundance to return to us. In the spirit of "what I reap, I shall sow," Lammas reminds us that the energy we put out into the world will return threefold.

Whether you celebrate with a big group around a bonfire or quietly watch a Lammas sunset with a cup of tea, know that you are part of an ancient and worldwide web of harvest celebrations. Take a moment to truly feel the connection – your ancestors likely celebrated this very moment in their own way, giving thanks for the grain that would see them through winter. Likewise, you can carry on that legacy in a way that fits your life now, bringing old magic into the present day.

As summer mellows and the nights slowly grow longer, Lammas provides a chance to reset and recharge. Give yourself credit for how far you've come this year, and allow yourself to enjoy the rewards you've earned. There is a special kind of magic in recognizing accomplishment – it propels you forward with renewed confidence. And if the year's goals haven't all manifested yet, that's okay. The harvest season has only begun, and there is time for continued growth and second chances (just as later crops will ripen in the next Sabbats).