Preserving the historic traditions and seasonal celebrations of rural communities is what the Weald & Downland Living Museum is all about. One historically important seasonal milestone is the summer celebration of Lammas. Derived from the Old English phrase “hlafmaesse”, translating to “loaf-mass”, Lammas marks an integral seasonal turning point celebrating the First Fruits of Harvest.
Occurring halfway between the summer solstice (Litha) and the fall equinox (Mabon), Lammas celebrates the summer harvest of crops and the fruits of labour. The roots of Lammas can be traced back to ancient agricultural societies and pre-Christian Celtic traditions, where rural communities would offer the first loaves of bread made from the newly harvested wheat as a token of gratitude and offering to the deities for their blessings.
Historically, waiting until the first day of August to harvest sheaves of grain was considered good luck. By nightfall, the farmer’s wife would hastily bake the bread with the freshly harvested grains, creating the first loaves to honour the harvest. Using the grain from the previous year’s stash instead of the new harvest was believed to signify bad luck for the upcoming harvesting season. Within the modern Pagan and Wiccan traditions, it remains a festival of bread and grain, celebrated with feasts and crafts, such as making corn dollies and baking the figure of god in bread.
Lammas marks a summer festivity while hinting at the approaching autumn. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the longer days and crisp air, gather with family and friends under the sun’s warmth, and reflect on accomplishments. As solar energy diminishes, it’s a chance to appreciate nature’s bountiful gifts and reflect on the journey with gratitude.
