August 1, 2021

From FB:

“The festival of Lammas, celebrated on August 1, was one of the four great Pagan celebrations of Britain. The festival celebrated the realization of the first fruits of the Earth, and more particularly that of the grain harvest. When Christianity was introduced, the day continued to be observed as a festival on these grounds, and from a ‘loaf’ of bread (being the usual offering at church), the day came to be called ‘Hlaf-mass,’ subsequently shortened to ‘Lammas.’One of the disputed customs associated with Lammas celebrations was that of ‘handfasting,’ whereby a couple could embark on a trial marriage for a year, at the end of which they were free to choose whether to remain together or apart for the rest of their lives. In medieval Britain, the ability to have a town celebration like Lammas was a valuable possession, giving exclusive rights on tolls on all articles sold. As such, they were opened by an official royal proclamation declaring how long the fair would last. Today in Exeter, the Lord Mayor reads a proclamation dating back 900 years, and a large leather white glove attached to a pole festooned with ribbons and flowers is held aloft symbolizing the royal protection of the peace for the duration of the festival.In Ireland and Scotland, August 1st was Lughnasadh, a celebration in honor of Lugh, the pagan god of light and wisdom. There, day long festivities featuring games and sports, singing, dancing, and storytelling followed by general merrymaking before evening bonfires.”