The midpoint between Litha and Mabon, Lammas is about celebrating the beginning of the harvest season, August 1. In many traditions, Lammas is simply celebrated by creating bread with that year's wheat. More commonly, small towns call this time of celebration, the Harvest Festival.
The family altar can represent Lammas by using the colors of the season, rich colors of red, gold, orange and browns. My altar cloth represents the harvest, with a patterned brown background, and hand embroidered symbols of plenty and corn/wheat on it. We include a sheaf of wheat(grass tied to look like wheat), a corn doll, braided ropes of garlic and small bouquets of herbs. My children especially like to include the small harvester trucks and wagons that they have. These tiny replicas bring to mind the idea that this time of year is a celebration of hard work.
Of course, the feast is an important part of the day. We bake bread and everyone makes their own special loaf. Our lumpy masterpieces make perfect lunches, with fresh preserves, butter and juice.
Sunflowers hold a special place in our celebration. They represent not only the sun that seems to never end these days, but also the harvest itself, as we grow and save the seedheads for ourselves and our livestock. A sunflower makes a nice focal point in your summer decorating. A nice way to keep Lammas in the forefront of your thoughts throughout the whole day.
Finally, Lammas is a good time for bonding with your animals as well as the natural world. You may want to hold a special ritual to acknowledge your favorite familiar or pet. Keeping in mind, that celebrating abundance is also celebrating the abundant love we have surrounding us. Our animal friends, both domestic and wild, enjoy this easygoing time of year, as it slowly turns to leaner times. Celebrate with them, for them, as well as for your human family.
Thought for Lammas - Our time of plenty is not only a time to be thankful for our food harvest, but a time to be thankful for the circle of love and trust we surround ourselves with. Be bountiful to those around you, strengthen the circle.
