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Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, August Eve, The Festival
of Bread, Elembiuos, Lunasa, Cornucopia (Strega), Thingtide (Teutonic), is
the first of the pagan harvest rituals. It is named for Lugh, the Irish Sun
God. It is the festival in which Lugh is honoured, also of sacrifice as the
God-King becomes a willing sacrifice to ensure the success of the next
planting season.
Lughnasadh is primarily a grain harvest, one in which corn, wheat,
barley and grain products such as bread are prominently featured.
Fruits and vegetables which ripen in late summer are also a part of
the traditional feast.
During Lughnasadh the Goddess is honored as the Queen of Abundance and
the God, the Father of Prosperity. It is a time when the Goddess is a
new Mother. A feast of grains, breads, and early summer fruits and
vegetables is held in the Deity's honor.
The threshing of precious grain was once seen as a sacred act, and
threshing houses had small wooden panels under the door so that no
loose grain could escape. This is the original meaning of our modern
word "threshold".
From "Celtic Myth and Magick" by Edain McCoy
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