Happy Lammas
Lammas celebrates the first harvest of the year and the skills of those who tend them. Baking and sharing
bread, feasting with neighbor, and honoring the still-powerful forces of the
summer sun's light, are the main themes.In the Celtic tradition it is the feast day of the Sun King Lugh and his foster Mother Tailtu.
Primarily known as the God of the Sun, Lugh is a "Jack of all trades". He is a Warrior, Physician, Druid, Bard, Smith, Brewer, etc. His trademark weapons in all traditions are his slingshot and spear. In Irish lore, he is the father of the great hero, Cu Chulainn. He can be called upon for help with anything requiring the use or demonstration of one's skills (i.e.: job interviews, starting new projects, etc.). He can also be called upon for almost any other reason (healing, courage, creativity, etc.).
Lugh's story starts with a secret love affair between Cian (A De Dannan) and Eithne (The daughter of Balor, the Formorian). Balor locks his daughter in a high tower, unreachable by any means except for flying. Cian, not to be disheartened by this, enlists in the aid of a Druidess, who makes him able to fly on a cloud over to the tower.
Months later, Eithne gives birth to two beautiful babies (which proves that they are not of Formorian fatherhood because Formorians are to be quite ugly). Balor, worried and angered by this, throws the babies into the sea. A prophesy had been made that a child of Formorian and De Dannan blood together would bring about his death and he wanted to prevent that fate. One drowns and the other swims away. The baby boy is discovered by the Sea God, Mannanann MacLir who in turn sends him to a warrior woman, Tailtu, to be fostered until such time that the boy is old enough to return for the 4 treasures of the otherworld to defeat Formorian rule).
The young Lugh was raised by a frazzled Tailtu. He learned so quickly that he became bored very quickly and would drive her nuts. She taught him everything that she could, and sent him to others to learn what she could not teach. By the time he was a young man, Lugh had pretty much gained almost every skill there was to be had. Soon, it was time for him to return to Mannanann and fulfill his destiny.
It was a rainy and miserable day when Lugh arrived at the gates of Tara, the not-so-stong-anymore-hold of the Tuatha De Dannan. The Formorians had the Dannans under their oppressive force for some time now. Nuada, the King, had lost his hand in battle and, even though a silver one had been put in its place, that worked just as well, he was forced to step down from his throne. (Celtic law forbade any to be ruler who had any form of blemish on his/her self). In his place, ruled Bres: a half Formorian, half Dannan. He was a good looking man but he had the countenance of a boor (not a boar).
Lugh appraoched the gate and knocked. His knock was soon answered by a sour-faced gatekeeper.
"What do you want?" Asked the gatekeeper.
"I have come to offer my skills to your people" Replied Lugh.
"What skills could you have to offer us?"
"I am a warrior"
"We already have warriors"
"I am a healer"
"We have many"
"I am a smith"
"We already have one"
This went on and on for quite a while. The gatekeeper was about to slam the door in his face when Lugh asked one final question:
"If you already have someone who can do ALL of these things, then I shall walk away and bother you no more"
The gatekeeper went to check. When he came back, he allowed Lugh entry. They had no one who could do all those things.
Not only did Lugh "get the job", but he even became King for a year and a day with Nuada as his advisor. During his "reign", he led the Tuatha De Dannan against the Formorians in the second Battle of Mag Tuiriedh. During the battle, he finally met up with the Formorian leader, Balor (who was also his grandfather). A joyous family reunion, it was not! While Balor's men prepared to open his evil eye that when opened would kill all within its sight, Lugh prepared his slingshot. As the eye was opened, Lugh made his shot. It went through the eye, making it look in upon Balor and Balor was killed. The Formorian threat was defeated and the De Dannans were victorious.
During his reign, his father Cian was killed by the sons of Uisnach. Lugh ruled that the sons would pay a very hefty honour price, which at the very end cost them their lives...but not at Lugh's hands. His foster mother, Tailtu died as well and Lugh held a massive funeral feast in her honour complete with warrior "games" (kind of like the Olympic games). He stated that this feast would be celebrated along with the harvest every year at the same time...hence the festival of Lughnassadh that is celebrated on August 1 to this day.
The celebration of Lammas is a break from the harvest work with fun and merriment featuring contests of skill, laughter, feasting, and dancing, are tempered by the knowledge that most crops are still growing in the fields with no guarantee of adequate abundance for the long winter.
Hope you have a wonderful Lammas and are "harvesting "your own wonderful things this holiday.
