Welcome to autumn! I know. Whether you’re in the northern hemisphere or the southern you probably think I’m nuts (or maybe, if you’re kind, you just think I’m confused). According to the calendar most of us operate by, it’s winter in the southern hemisphere and summer in the northern. Where I am (South Florida, USA), it’s blame hot! So, why am I talking about autumn? On the Celtic calendar, Thursday, August 1st was Lughnasa, the Celtic fire festival that marks the first day of autumn. So, I’m not nuts (well, maybe just a little).
Okay, so what is Lughnasa (loo-nah-sa) anyway? It’s one of the four fire festivals celebrated by the ancient Celts. Each fire festival day marks the start of a new season: Imbolc (Feb. 1st) spring, Beltane (May 1st) summer, Lughnasa (August 1st) autumn, and Samhain (Nov 1st) winter. On the Celtic calendar, Samhain is the Celtic New Year and Lughnasa marks the final season of the year, so Lughnasa is kind of the beginning of the end. This is the time when you reap what you’ve sown. It’s also a time of fading light and warmth. It’s the time to prepare for the cold dark of winter (and yes, that’s a metaphor for death). But Lughnasa is a joyful celebration as well. Traditionally, it’s a time for social gatherings, fairs, and competitions (music, poetry, sports). So, eat, drink, and be merry because tomorrow…well, you know. With all of the Celtic fire festivals, there is a lot to meditate on, if you choose to do so. Check out this ancient holy day’s themes in my post.Lughnasa: Dancing Towards Darkness
A Little Mythical History
Lughnasa is named for the Celtic sun god Lugh. According to Celtic mythology, Lugh himself established the festival to honor his mother (whose name varies depending on the source). Having compassion on the humans living on the island of Eire, she cleared all the land so that they could farm. Then, exhausted, she died. Lugh ordered a festival be held in her honor every year. And it does honor her in that it is a harvest celebration, and, during the ancient Celtic celebration, the first fruits of the harvest were offered as a sacrifice. But Lughnasa also celebrates Lugh. The sun god was a boy wonder who excelled at everything—poetry, music, sport, you name it. So, Lughnasa celebrations feature fairs with sports competitions (especially horse racing), singing and poetry contests, dancing competitions, and so on.
In Scotland and Ireland, Lughnasa traditionally was the time for handfasting. This ritual bound the couple together in a one-year marriage commitment. After one year and a day, the couple could make the union permanent or go their separate ways, no harm, no foul. This custom continued well into the Christian era. In the 17th century, the Scottish, under pressure from the Church of Scotland, parliament banned handfasting.
Since Celtic days traditionally go from sunset to sunset, the feast day starts at sundown on July 31st. This is the perfect time for the lighting of bonfires, a feature of all fire festivals.
Lughnasa continues to be celebrated in Scotland but under the name Lunestal. On August 1st, the Welsh celebrate Gwl Awst, a holiday scholars say has roots in Lughnasa. The Irish still embrace the original. In the Irish language, in fact, the entire month of August is called Lúnasa.
Harvesting Herbs and Magic
For the ancient Celtics, fire festivals and the change of seasons were intensely magical times. They were the best time to pick herbs used for medicinal or magical purposes. The Celts believed that these herbs were more potent and contained magical energy.
I can’t guarantee there’s any truth to that belief and, unless you have your own herb garden, you’re likely getting your herbals pre-picked from the grocery store. But I thought it’d be fun to look at some herbs that could be picked in Ireland and the UK at Lughnasa and to talk about their medicinal and magical properties. So here goes.
Basil: Herbalism says that Basil eases gastric issues including diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite. Celtic folklore goes further. It considers basil a superpower herb good for treating anything from insect bites to migraines to kidney disorders. (Note: no scientific research has been done to either prove or disprove these claims.)
Basil is no slouch in the magic department either. It can be used in love charms, magical protection, and even to enable one to fly. Reflect on that the next time you order pizza.
Bay Leaf: Bay leaves are not the all-heal that basil is. Still, they have their uses, namely in wound care to decrease inflammation and as a pain reliever. Scientific studies have shown that drinking tea made from bay leaves can increase the level of good cholesterol in one’s system. It is said to lower total cholesterol but, currently, there is insufficient evidence for this claim. Bay also is said to help with diabetes by lowering blood sugar, and it’s said to fight cancer, but this also has yet to been proven by scientific research.
According to folklore, bay provides powerful protection. It also is said to provide healing, strength, and good fortune. It dispels confusion and fear and can improve your psychic ability. Best of all, bay leaves can help make your wishes come true. Folklore says to write your desire on leaves then burn the leaves to achieve your desire. Of course, I make no guarantees. I simply report what the lore says.
Bog Myrtle: Bog Myrtle has both astringent and antiseptic properties. It has been used in herbal and folk medicine to treat acne, heal wounds, and to aid digestion.
Because of its strong aroma, the Scots used it—and still use it—as a mosquito repellent.
The ancient Celts used bog myrtle branches to purify the homes, believing the pungent fragrance would ward off evil spirits
Along with heather, this plant is part of a traditional Scottish wedding bouquet.
Heather: Good for helping with urinary tract issues, heather has been used for bladder problems, kidney stones, enlargement of the prostate, and inflammation of the urinary tract.
This herb has been shown to remove excess uric acid from the body, so it can be used for detox and as an antiseptic.
Tea made from heather flowers has been used to treat arthritis, gout, and colic. It has a mild sedative effect and, so, sometimes is used as a sleep aid. A gentle warning: tea made from heather has a diuretic effect. It might make you sleepy but you might spend the night going to the bathroom.
According to folklore, heather is excellent for protection, good luck, rain-making, and conjuring ghosts. Scottish brides who want to be traditional carry heather in their bouquets for good luck.
Mint: “Mint” is a general term for a variety of plants: peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen. Botanically, the mint family also includes rosemary, sage, and thyme, among others.
Mint (usually peppermint is meant) is a well-known digestive aid. Peppermint has been shown in studies to increase alertness. Ironically, peppermint tea is also often recommended as a sleep aid because its vapors are soothing. In addition, that calming effect helps ease coughs and respiratory issues, such as colds, sinus problems, and bronchitis. The odor is said to be a mood booster too.
In Celtic folklore, spearmint is the herb of choice for sleep as it is said to protect you while you sleep. It also helps with healing and love. Wintergreen is said to calm fears and anxiety. Peppermint, the lore says, increases your psychic powers (which might help protect you from danger). It was used in purification rituals, and like spearmint, peppermint is said to help with love and healing.
Red Clover Flowers: This is another herb that is used in herbalism to treat bronchitis. It is also said to ease osteoporosis and ease the symptoms of menopause.
Because of this herb’s red color, Celtic folklore connects it with matters of the heart, i.e. love and romance.
The lore also claims that carrying red clover provides protection from witches and faeries, and that washing in water infused with its leaves is said to attract prosperity.
Rosemary: this herb has been shown in studies to improve memory and cognitive awareness in young adults when taken orally. It has been found to be even more effective in achieving this when it’s used in aromatherapy.
In addition to improving mental powers and inducing sleep, rosemary, according to folklore, can heal, protect, and purify. The herb is considered excellent for attracting love and was used in wedding bouquets.
Sage: In medieval times, this herb was associated with remembering. As it turns out, scientific studies have shown that taking sage increases alertness and improves memory in healthy adults. It also seems to improve learning, memory, and information processing in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It is thought to help with the chemical imbalances that cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
The Celts considered sage a cure-all and it was part of any Fairy Doctor’s medicine chest. In addition, the herb was used in purification rituals and was employed to reverse spells.
Thyme: At present, science says there is insufficient evidence to prove any medicinal efficacy for thyme, but that just means its effectiveness as a medicine hasn’t been studied enough yet by scientists.
Celtic folklore connects rosemary and thyme to mental acuity. Strangely, it also claims both herbs help induce sleep. In addition, thyme, according to the lore, increases one’s psychic abilities.
In addition, according to folklore, thyme is said to attract loyalty, affection, and even romantic love. It can help to ease unbearable grief and provide strength and courage. Thyme is used for purification and the banishing of evil spirits and negative forces. It also wards off nightmares. Perhaps that’s why it’s a good sleep aid.
So, there you have it. A list of herbs to celebrate Lughnasa, the harvest festival. You don’t need to believe any of the folklore, the herbalism, or even the scientific studies. Have a bubbly pizza with chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. That’s not Celtic, some of you may say. Okay. Make a wonderful cock-a-leeky soup seasoned with rosemary, sage, and thyme, and follow that up with a relaxing cup of peppermint tea. But be sure not to use herbals or attempt to make teas or medicines with herbs, such as heather or bog myrtle, unless you know what you’re doing. Leave the preparation of herbal medicines (and love potions) to the professionals.
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Slán go fóill
All artwork for this post (except for the Ukranian flag and the GIF) by Christine Dorman via Bing Image Creator.
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