Monday, July 31, 2006
AUGUST 1 - LUGHNASADHLughnasadh, (pronounced loo-na'-sa,) is the Celtic harvest festival on August 1st and takes its name from the Irish god Lugh, one of the chief gods of the Tuatha De Danann, giving us Lughnasadh in Ireland, Lunasdál in Scotland, and Laa Luanys in the Isle of Man. In Wales, this time is known simply as Gwl Awst, the August Feast. Lugh dedicated this festival to his foster-mother, Tailtiu, the last queen of the Fir Bolg, who died from exhaustion after clearing a great forest so that the land could be cultivated. When the men of Ireland gathered at her death-bed, she told them to hold funeral games in her honor. As long as they were held, she prophesied Ireland would not be without song.
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Because Lughnasadh is a celebration of the new harvest, people cooked special ritual and festive meals. This is when I fix an authentic garden dinner. All items are from local gardens. (We used to have freshly caught rainbow trout when my Native American neighbor attended. Fishing pole? Please. This Indian used his hands.)
I usually have tomatoes, cucumbers, cole slaw, fresh sweet corn, apple cider in the chalice, fried squash, spring pea salad, new potatos, beans & cornbread, a fruit cobbler, and/or a fruit salad. Whatever is ready to harvest. Once someone voluteered to bring the corn and it turned out to be feed corn -- the tough kind you feed to your cattle and horses. We gnawed on it anyway. Along with the homegrown food, we also have homemade libations which are uncorked, (or unscrewed in the case of the corn liquor,) long before we break cornbread together. It's really a favorite celebration.
I hope you enjoy Lughnasadh, your new harvest.
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