Lammas

[RegularJackass]

Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, is the time between summer and autumn harvests, but is the first bona fide huge harvest festival. It celebrates the first fruits and the first grains of the new crop. As it is between Midsummer and Mabon, it marks the turning point between full summer and the beginning of autumn. It's often celebrated on August 1. Potlucks and picnics are par for the course since it is taboo to not share food on Lammas. It also marks the berry harvest. Lammas is usually at the hottest part of the year and so pool parties make sense. It is a celebration of the sun and of the gifts given by the bountiful Earth in harvest. It is the first Witches' Thanksgiving, and in America, we have four. One is Lammas, one is Mabon, one is Samhain - also the Witches' New Year, and one is Thanksgiving. Probably the most important activity is making fresh bread from whole grains. If they're freshly ground so much the better. In years gone by Lughnasadh was celebrated by hosting competitive games and contests, and by handfasting people for trial marriages of "a year and a day" to see if it'd work out. Fairs were held and artisans showed off their work. People showed the community what they had worked for thus far. You can still do this today, but on a smaller scale. Invite your friends over and have a party!

Activities: Making corn dollies, making wheat wreaths, drying herbs, making herbal vinegars and oils, decorating with indian corn and stalks of grain, saving and planting the seeds from the foods eaten at the feast, making garlic and onion braids, making chile ristras
Symbols: Wheat, corn, corn dolly
Colors: Red, green, gold, rainbow
Herbs: Sunflower, safflower, crabapples, eucalyptus, heather, bilberry, blueberry, hops, beer-brewing herbs, peony, nasturtium, clover, heliotrope, poppy, rose, myrtle, garlic, onion, chile, holly, mugwort, basil, mint, acacia, rose, calendula, all grains
Crystals and metals: Citrine, gold, peridot, yellow diamonds, aventurine, sardonyx, carnelian
Incense: Rose, sandalwood, frankincense
Foods: Apples, blackberry pie, berries and cream, brewed anything, beer, home-baked breads of all kinds, crackers, cornbread, just about any food made out of grain, corn on the cob, salad with mushrooms, grilled stuff, watermelon, grapes, apricots

Lammas is a good time to cast spells for prosperity, success, wise leadership, and personal strength.