Pagan Sabbats and Festivals - Lughnasadh and Mabon


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the celtic year 1 2 3 4

The Celtic year is traditionally divided into quarter and cross-quarter days, all marked by a major celebration. For an overview, see the Wheel of the Year page.

Samhain - Yule - Imbolc - Ostara - Beltane - Litha - Lughnasadh - Mabon

August 1 - Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is the cross-quarter festival that heralds the start of the autumn quarter of the year. Even though Lughnasadh occurs at the warmest time of the year, it marks the time at which days become noticeably shorter; it is the time when the first corn is harvested.

Associated colours are grey, gold and green; herbs are cornstalks, heather and frankincense. Corn ears, hollyhock, myrtle, oak leaves, and wheat may be used as offerings and decorations.

Lughnasadh is named after Lugh, the Celtic god of light and wisdom. At Lughnasadh, bread from the first harvest was eaten in thanks, and this tradition was continued in the Christian church's Lammas ('loaf-mass') service, where the first loaf would be blessed at mass. In terms of the Goddess cycle, Lughnasadh is sometimes considered as the time of transformation of the Goddess into her aspect as pregnant Earth Mother. The God is getting weaker as the days grow shorter, but his rebirth is assured as he is also present as the Goddess's unborn child.

Lughnasadh is a time to take stock and be thankful for what we have and what we have achieved. It is a time for sharing and appreciation, a time to consider our situation and learn the lessons of the ways in which we have reaped what we have sown, for good or for ill. It is also an auspicious time for deciding how to get the most from ongoing situations or projects.

21 September - Mabon

mabon Mabon is the solar festival that marks the transition from the light to the dark half of the year: day and night are of equal length. By Mabon, the land is showing clear signs of the journey towards winter - leaves are beginning to turn and birds are gathering for migration.

Associated colours are brown, russet orange and maroon, and appropriate herbs and incenses are benzoin, marigold, myrrh, sage, and thistles. Acorns, asters, ferns, honeysuckle, milkweed, chrysanthemums, oak leaves, pine and roses make apt decorations.

Mabon is the time of the second harvest, when fruits are ready for collection. It is a time to consider which aspects of your life you wish to preserve and which you would prefer to discard. It marks a time of thankfulness, equality and balance when you should try to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of your labors. The dark half of the year brings a greater emphasis on reflection, rest and planning, and Mabon is the point at which these influences begin to be felt.

To see all our Mabon items, click here..

Samhain - Yule - Imbolc - Ostara - Beltane - Midsummer