| Lughnasadh, or the Feast of Bread belonged to the god Lugh and was celebrated on August 1: it coincides with the beginning of the harvest and signifies the death of Bel, the Corn King. In Ireland, Lugh also is referred to as Lugh of the Long Hand, prince of the Sun. Circular Harvest Dances were held where the cheiftains of the tribe wore horned headpieces--this was to honor the god Lugh, who loved games and competitive sports to keep up the phyical vigor of his worhippers. Corncakes were made in the shape of the CornKing's body, and a special ale produced from the first harvested ears of corn--these were consumed in a ceremony to honor the King who gave his life so that the people could have food--a prehisoric Communion rite. . |
| Mabon, the time of the Autumn Equinox, takes place on September 21 and marks the last harvest before Winter claims the Earth, to cover her in a blanket of whiteness and silence. The ancient Celts saw this as a time of celebrating the bounty the Earth had given them. The giver was personified as the Mother Goddess, who with the fruitfulness of the womb, had made a great Gift to mankind of wheat, corn, oats and all the fruits of field and tree. One of the Goddess' incarnations, Bridget, had 19 priestesses who kept alive a sacred Fire at Kildaire in Ireland, as a shrine to her. Sacrifices of a part of the Harvest was given to the Grain Lord--he who would be laid in the Earth to arise again-- bonfires were lit, honey-mead was drunk and the Harvest stored for the coming Winter. |
| When the last apples were picked & the last ears of corn harvested, the Earth rested so that her fertility could be renewed. Also called Hallowe'en, this festival began on October 31, and was used to remember the Dead, and to fertilize the earth with animal sacrifices--it was a clear distinction between the joys of Harvest and the hardships of the approaching Winter. Samhain was a time when the veil between the world of the Sidhe-the Fairy folk-and humankind grew thin, and so grew up traditions of casting fortunes on this night, hoping for a clear view into the Future. The assemblies of the five Irish provinces at Tara Hill, the seat of the Irish king, took place at Samhain, marked by horse races, fairs & markets, political discussions and ritual mourning for the passage of Summer |
| The feast of the Winter Solstice was called Yule and took place about December 21; it marked the longest, darkest night of the year. Hot apple cider and, sweetened cakes, filled with dried fruit saved from sunnier days were favorite treats at Yule; and homes were decorated with holly and pine boughs; mistletoe, sacred to the Great Mother was hung--kissing is a mild token of her Fertility Rites. Yule was a celebration of waxing solar light, and in honor of the divine Sun child an Oaken Yule log decorated with holly was burned. The old Holly King gave up his Life to make way for the reborn Sun Child: Yule celebrated the sleep of death of the old King, and the womb-sleep & birth of his newest incarnation. Because the exact date of the birth for Jesus Christ-the King of Light to all Christians- is unknown, the Church assigned it to this time, a date already sacred to ancient peoples. |
| Clan Of The Fire Lake will be celebrating these Sabbats contact us for further information and dates |
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| We will be holding a meet, great, and informal ritual on Aughust 4th for the celebration of Lammas. RSVP is reguired. email us for more details. |