MUIN
LIGHT
The newsletter of
Muin Mound Grove, ADF
7188 Minoa Bridgeport Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057-9601
Lúghnasadh 2000
Lúghnasadh
From "The Wheel of the Year at Muin Mound Grove, ADF" by Skip Ellison
This is another of the
festivals known by many names and with many spellings of the main name of Lúghnasadh. Various spellings include, Lughnasa (Modern Irish), Lugnasad (Old
Irish), Lúnasa (Reformed Modern Irish),
Lúnasdain, Lúnasdal, Lunasduinn (Scots Gaelic) and Laa Luanisdyn or Laa Luanys
(in Manx). It is also called
Lammas Day, Garland Day, Domnash Chrom Dubh, Crom Dubh Sunday, Billberry Sunday
(also known as Domthnach na bhFraochóga in Ireland), Fraugham Sunday,
Cornucopia (Strega), and Thingtide (Teutonic).[1]
This fire festival marks the
end of summer and the beginning of fall.
This festival was traditionally up to a month long, being held between
July 15 and August 15. Nowadays, it is
usually celebrated on or near August 1.
British Witches often refer to the astrological date of August 6th as
Old Lammas, and folklorists call it Lammas O.S. ('Old Style'). This date has long been considered a 'power
point' of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the 'tetramorph'
figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other
three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and the Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the
symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the Zodiac, and these naturally align with
the four Greater Sabbats of modern day Witchcraft. Christians have adopted the same iconography to represent the
four gospel‑writers.[2]
For the Irish, this was a
feast to commemorate the funeral games of the Goidelic sun god Lúgh. At first glance, it may seem that we are celebrating
the death of Lúgh, but the God of Light does not really die (mythically) until
the autumnal equinox. It is not Lúgh's
death that is being celebrated, but the funeral games that Lúgh hosted to commemorate
the death of his foster‑ mother, Tailtiu. Miranda Green, who suggests that this festival may have been held
to celebrate Lúgh's marriage, suggests an alternative reason for the holiday.[3]
As
well as being held in Telltown in modern County Meath, this festival was
celebrate at three other main centers in Ireland, Emain Macha in Ulster, Carman
in Leinster and at Tara for the whole of Ireland. Some of the tales tell us that at this time, legal and political
matters were settled and games and feasting was held.[4] However, from a poem preserved in a medieval
manuscript, we learn that at Carmen, deeds of violence, abductions, the
repudiation of husband or wife and the levying of debts were all prohibited. The penalties ascribed by this poem are severe
- "Whoever transgresses the law of the King Berén prescribed firmly for
ever that he should not thrive in his tribe, but should die for his mortal
sin."[5] From looking at the other stories and
customs that have come down from this festival, this appears to be a later
addition to the games.
One common feature of the
Games were the 'Tailltean Marriages,' a rather informal marriage that lasted
for only 'a year and a day' or until the next Lammas. At that time, the couple would return to the place of the
ceremony and decide whether to continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or
to stand back to back facing north and south and walk away from one another,
thus bringing the Tailltean marriage to a formal close (or divorce). These trial marriages are why the Lammas celebrations
in Ireland are often called the 'Tailltean Games'. Such trial marriages (obviously related to the Wiccan
'Handfasting') were quite common even into the 1500's, although the Church
didn't recognize them. It is said that
at Kirkland in the Orkneys, there was a Lammas Fair custom where young men and
women would choose 'Lammas' brother or sisters for themselves and spend the
night with them on an improvised bed of sheaves.[6]
Lammas was the medieval
Christian name for the holiday which comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'hlaf-maes',
and it means 'loaf feast or loaf mass', referring to the loaves that were baked
from the first grain harvested, blessed by the Clergy (and later by a Christian
priest) and then distributed to the members and/or congregation. It was a day representative of first fruits
and early harvest. Lammas occurs
between the hay harvest and the wheat harvest.
Ancient peoples viewed the grain as a manifestation of the divine force
... personified as the 'green man,' a resilient god figure, growing sturdy and
solid through spring and summer, cut down by the harvest's scythe, sleeping
through the cold winter in the bosom of the Earth Mother, and returning once
again, as a reborn infant, clothed in green with spring.[7] In later days, this became the story of
'John Barleycorn'. Bread and brew -
products of the grain harvest - represent the mystery of transformation, the
metamorphosis of the grain by fire and fermentation.
Along
with the feast from the first harvest, there were numerous rituals associated
with continuing the fertility of the fields.
According to Nigel Pennick, one of the deities honored at this time was
Annona, the goddess of the harvest.[8] Flowers paid a great part in the rituals and
were burned at the end to show the end of summer. The cutting of the first sheaf of wheat was as highly ritualized,
as the cutting of the last sheaf would be at Mabon.[9] Even in the Scottish Highland today, there
are many customs associated with this.
It is also said, that at this
time of the gathering of all the tribes, the whole mythological and
chronological past of the tribes was conjured into the present by the skill of
the shanachies. There is a fuller list
of the stories told and other happenings at the festival, especially of the
feast at Tara, on pages 169 to 172 in Celtic Heritage by Alwyn and
Brinley Rees.
Lammastide was also the traditional time of year for craft festivals. The medieval guilds would create elaborate displays of their wares, decorating
their shops and themselves in bright colors and
ribbons, marching in parades, and performing strange, ceremonial plays and
dances for the entranced onlookers.
This was the time of the year when apprentices would be moved up to
journeyman status and would show people their skill. It was also the time when new apprentices would be hired. The atmosphere must have been quite similar
to the modern day Renaissance Festivals or Green Corn Dance festivals of the
Native Americans.
The
games held would include horse racing and contests of strength and martial
skills. One of the contests that we are
told was held involved throwing a weight for distance. A chariot wheel on the end of an axle was
the weight thrown! This was know as the
'wheel feat' and was one the Cú Chulainn was said to excel at.[10]
A ceremonial highlight of
such festivals was the 'Catherine wheel'.
Although the Roman Catholic Church moved St. Catherine's Feast day all
around the calendar with bewildering frequency, its most popular date was Lammas. They also kept trying to expel this much‑loved
saint from the ranks of the blessed because she was mythical rather than
historical, and because her worship gave rise to the heretical sect known as
the Cathari. During the merry making, a
large wagon wheel was taken to the top of a near‑by hill, covered with
tar, set aflame, and ceremoniously rolled down the hill. Some mythologists see in this ritual the
remnants of a Pagan rite symbolizing the end of summer, the flaming disk
representing the sun god in his decline.
And just as the sun king has now reached the autumn of his years, his
rival or dark self has just reached puberty.[11]
The days now grow visibly
shorter and by the time we've reached autumn's end (Oct 31st), we will have run
the gamut of temperature from the heat of August to the cold and (sometimes)
snow of November. Lammas is also known
as a new-wine festival and a kick-off feast for the hard working harvest
season, encompassing other chores such as candle making, replacing curtains,
tablecloths, and rugs, and preparing and preserving food for the winter
months. It is also the time for weaning
the calves and lambs.
Senior Druid's Report
Our Summer Solstice ritual went
well. It was our second ritual done in
a Norse format and balanced out the first one done last Yule. The Norse rituals have been an interesting
change from our normal Celtic ones.
There is a different feel to the energy flow. Our thanks to Rick for putting both rituals together!
Work has progressed on the road
leading out to the fields. At the
business meeting before the Summer Solstice ritual, the Grove approved buying
three loads of stone for the roadwork.
Sharon and I spent the good part of a week working on the road until the
stone and underlying material ran out.
It completed to past the path leading into the showers and we'll work on
it again when we can get some more stone.
I've been busy attending festivals,
Wiccan Fest in Ontario and Free Spirit Gathering in Maryland so far, and I'm
leaving for Sirius Risings and Starwood as this goes to the printers. It's been wonderful being able to meet so
many wonderful people. ADF has but on
the main rituals at both Wiccan Fest and Free Spirit and did a wonderful job on
both! Many people have expressed an
interest in joining the organization because of it. I'd like to see more people from the Grove attending festivals. Most times, I go there alone, so if you need
a ride, just ask!
WORK PARTIES
We'll be getting the land ready for
Muin Mound Madness, so we'll be having work parties on Wednesday evenings from
5:00 PM till dark. Swimming and hot
tubing will follow them! Some of the
jobs that need to be done include: trimming the brush along the road going to
the fields, trimming the brush in the maze, cutting firewood, putting the tarps
up over the stage and rebuilding one of the wood storage units in the field.
Work parties will be held on 7/26,
8/2, 8/9, 8/16 & 8/23. Attending 3
out of the 5 work parties counts for FREE ADMISSION to Muin Mound Madness!!
MUIN MOUND MADNESS X
This year's event will be a
slack fest! No scheduled programming,
just come to meet other Druids and party!
We'll be playing Role Playing Games, swimming and hot tubing. We'll have the archery and spear range open
for those interested and we'll have out an assortment of "bopper weapons" for
those that like to add a little more violence to their playing. This year the price has been reduced to $30
for the weekend or $15/day. The fields
will be open for camping starting Friday afternoon. The dates are from 8/25 to 8/27.
Muin Mound Grove
Calendar of Events
|
Event |
Date |
Time |
Comments |
|
Sirius Rising |
7/10/00 to 7/16/00 |
|
Brushwood's festival. Smaller than Starwood but very nice. For more information,
contact Brushwood Folklore Center at: 8881 Bailey Hill Road, Sherman, NY
14781 or at the web site at www.brushwood.com |
|
STARWOOD! |
7/18/00 to 7/23/00 |
|
Biggest and best festival
in the East! Come and camp with the
Druids in Druid Heights. For more
information, contact ACE, 1643 Led Rd., #9, Cleveland Hts., OH 44118 or visit
the web site at http://www.rosencomet.com/sw20/index.html |
|
Work Party |
7/26/00 |
5:00 till Dark |
Dress for working in the
brush! There is poison ivy, so be
prepared! |
|
Business Meeting |
7/29/00 |
5:00 PM |
Normal business. |
|
Lúghnasadh |
7/29/00 |
8:00 PM |
Fields open for
camping. Please bring a dish to share
and a can of food for our food drive. |
|
Work Party |
8/2/00 |
5:00 till Dark |
Dress for working in the
brush! There is poison ivy, so be
prepared! |
|
Work Party |
8/9/00 |
5:00 till Dark |
Dress for working in the
brush! There is poison ivy, so be
prepared! |
|
Work Party |
8/16/00 |
5:00 till Dark |
Dress for working in the
brush! There is poison ivy, so be
prepared! |
|
Work Party |
8/23/00 |
5:00 till Dark |
Dress for working in the
brush! There is poison ivy, so be
prepared! |
|
OTHER EVENTS |
|||
|
Shinning Lakes Lugh Fest |
8/4/00 to 8/6/00 |
|
Put on by Shinning Lakes
Grove in Ann Arbor, MI. This is
always a nice festival. For more
information, contact SLG at: POB 15585, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-5585 or visit
their web site at: http://www.msen.com/~robh/slg/
|
|
Summerlands Festival |
8/18/00 to 8/20/00 |
|
This is put on by Triskele
River Grove and will be held in Yellow Springs, OH. It looks like they have a wonderful site and they should have a
large turn out! For more information,
email Summerland@coolmail.net. |
|
Muin Mound Madness X |
8/25/00 to 8/27/00 |
|
Our own festival. This year it will be a slack fest/party
festival. No scheduled
programming! More information will be
available when we get closer to it. |
As
always, we welcome your contributions: stories, articles, artwork,
poems...whatever your creativity brings to mind. You can get them to us by mailing to MUIN MOUND GROVE, ADF, 7188
Minoa Bridgeport Road, East Syracuse, NY 13057-9601 or via e-mail at sellison@twcny.rr.com (preferred
method).
Up
to the minute information about the Grove can always be found on our web site
at: http://home.twcny.rr.com/muinmoundgrove
Need to contact the Grove
directly? For more information, call
656-8681.
