Lughnasadh is more than just a celebration marking the start of the harvest season; it is a profound acknowledgment of the cycle of growth and sacrifice. Situated between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, Lughnasadh symbolizes the first fruits of planting labor, reflecting the delicate balance between nature’s bounty and the hard work required to cultivate it. By honoring Lughnasadh, we reconnect with our ancestors’ traditions and the enduring rhythms of the earth.
Ways to Celebrate
Bake Bread
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of fresh bread to signify the harvest.
Visit a Farmers Market
Support local farmers and enjoy the first fruits of the harvest.
Make Corn Dollies
Craft these traditional figures as a creative way to celebrate the season.
Hold a Harvest Supper
Invite loved ones to feast and give thanks for the bounty of the season.
Walk in Nature
Observe the ripe fields, the high sun, the signs of summer at its peak.
Preserve Fruit
Make jams or jellies from summer berries to enjoy throughout the year.
Donate to a Food Bank
Share the abundance of the season with others in need.
Journal on Abundance
Reflect on the areas of your life that feel abundant and those where you’d like to invite more abundance.
Create a Lughnasadh Altar
Use corn, wheat, sunflowers, or other symbols of the harvest.
Meditate on the Cycle of Life
Contemplate the cycle of growth, harvest, death, and rebirth, and how it plays out in your own life
Colors
- Yellow: Represents the sun, warmth, and abundance of the harvest
- Orange: Symbolizes the ripening of fruits and the vibrant energy of the season
- Red: Stands for the life force and vitality that sustain us
- Brown: Represents the earth and the grounding energy of the harvest
- Green: Symbolizes the fertility of the land and the growth of plants and crops
Crystals
- Citrine: Represents abundance, prosperity, and the energy of the sun
- Aventurine: Symbolizes growth, abundance, and the manifestation of one’s desires
- Tiger’s Eye: Encourages strength, protection, and clarity during the harvest season
- Carnelian: Energizes and promotes motivation, courage, and confidence
Scents
- Sandalwood: Used for purification and protection, as well as to honor the sun
- Frankincense: Represents abundance, spirituality, and connection to the divine
- Cinnamon: Symbolizes warmth, abundance, and the transformative energy of the season