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LUGHNASADH August 1 Symbolism Harvest and thanksgiving Turning point in Mother Earth's year Honor the weakening Sun God and give thanks for the seeds and the plants that went through the death process (harvest) in order to be reborn next season. It is the first of three harvest festivals and is usually associated with ripening grain. It is time to celebrate the fruits of the harvest but also to be aware that summer is passing and winter is on its way.
Symbols Colors are red and orange Corn Dollies Grain, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley, oats) Special loafs of bread, God figures made of bread, baskets of bread or cookie dough Corn Cornucopias red, yellow flowers first fruits/vegetables of garden labor spear, cauldron, sickle, scythe, threshing tools harvested herbs bonfires
Foods Bread Blackberries and all berries Crab apples All grains, barley cakes, nuts, rice Ripe produce Lamb Elderberry wine, ale, cider, beer, meadowsweet tea
Ritual Actions Bread eaten and thrown into the fire Grains woven into Goddess and God symbols Last herbs are gathered Spellwork for good fortune and abundance Making of corn husk dolls
Rituals Wheat weaving Visits to fields, orchards, lakes and wells Make a figure of the God from bread and use it for a simple feast Baking of bread is a common act of reverance Fashion corn husk dolls from the first harvested corn. Remove the kernels from the cob and place in a vessel of water. Place the vessel so that the moon will shine it's light upon it from waxing to full. Then take the corn husk doll and suspend it on the inside of the front door of the (your) house. Give the vessel of corn a place of honor in your home. This is believed to protect the household and ensure good fortune throughout the year. At the time of the following years harvest, the corn dolls are burned and the corn kernels are buried in the fields(garden), returning the seed to the earth.
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