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Lammas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| | This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (July 2011) |
For the Norfolk village, see Lammas, Norfolk.
| Lammas also known as Lambess | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | England Scotland Pagans (Neo-pagans, Wiccans) Christians (Catholics, Anglicans) |
| Type | Cultural, Religious (Pagan, Christian) |
| Date | 1 August (northern hemisphere) 1 February (southern hemisphere) |
| Celebrations | Handfasting Funeral Games First Fruits |
| Observances | Loaves made from the grain collected at harvest. |
| Related to | Lughnasadh |
In mediæval times the feast was known as the "Gule of August", but the meaning of "gule" is unclear. Ronald Hutton suggests that it may be an Anglicisation of Gŵyl Awst, the Welsh name for August 1 meaning "feast of August", but this is perhaps an overly-complicated extraction. Most etymological dictionaries give it an origin similar to gullet; from O.Fr. goulet, dim. of goule "throat, neck," from L. gula "throat,". One can see why Hutton feels differently as this Welsh derivation would point to a pre-Christian origin for Lammas among the Anglo-Saxons and a link to the Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh.[citation needed]
There are several historical references to it being known as Lambess eve, such as 'Publications of the Scottish Historical Society' 1964 and this alternative name is the origin of the Lambess surname, just as Hallowmass and Christmas were also adopted as familial titles.
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Christian
The feast of St. Peter in Chains, known as Lammas Day in English speaking countries, is a feast commemorating St Peter's miraculous deliverance from prison. The name is from loaf-mass, bread-feast; so called because on this day offerings were originally made of the first-fruits of harvest, the Catholic church baptizing the pagan festival in the tradition of the Hebrew First Fruits.Pre-Industrial
In The Every-Day Book by William Hone (published: 1838), he speaks of a festival common among Scottish farmers near Edinburgh that happens on August 1, or "Lammas Day." He says that they "build towers...leaving a hole for a flag-pole in the center so that they may raise their colors." When the flags over the many peat-constructed towers were raised, farmers would go to others' towers and attempt to "level them to the ground." A successful attempt would bring great praise. However, people were allowed to defend their towers, and so everyone was provided with a "tooting-horn" to alert nearby country folk of the impending attack and the battle would turn into a "brawl." According to Hone, more than four people had died at this festival and many more were injured. At the day's end, races were held, with prizes given to the townspeople.Neo-Paganism
Lammas is a Neo-Pagan holiday, often called Lughnasadh, celebrating the first harvest and the reaping of grain. It is a cross-quarter holiday halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon). In the northern hemisphere, Lammas takes place around August 1 with the Sun near the midpoint of Leo in the tropical zodiac, while in the southern hemisphere Lammas is celebrated around February 1 with the Sun near the midpoint of Aquarius. On the Wheel of the Year, it is opposite Imbolc, which is celebrated on February 2 in the northern hemisphere, and late July / early August in the southern hemisphere.Other uses
Lammas is one of the Scottish quarter days.Lammas leaves or Lammas growth refers to a second crop of leaves produced in high summer by some species of trees in temperate countries to replace those lost to insect damage. They often differ slightly in shape, texture and/or hairiness from the earlier leaves.
See also
References
- The Stations of the Sun, Ronald Hutton, Oxford 1996
- (1.3.19),Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, "Come Lammas Eve at night shall she [Juliet] be fourteen." Since Juliet was born Lammas eve, she came before the harvest festival, which is significant since her life ended before she could reap what she had sown and enjoy the bounty of the harvest, in this case full consummation and enjoyment of her love with Romeo.
- 'Publications of the Scottish Historical Society' 1964
External links
- Pretanic World Pre-Christian Holidays & Pre-Christian Traditions of Christian Holidays from Britain and Ireland
- Gule of August
- Observations on Popular Antiquities
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