Norse paganism is an ancient belief system that originated in the Nordic countries, including what is now known as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. This pagan religion was practiced by the Norse people from the Viking Age until the Christianization of Scandinavia in the Middle Ages. Norse paganism revolves around the worship of various gods and goddesses, often referred to as the Norse pantheon. These deities play important roles in Norse mythology and are believed to have control over different aspects of life, nature, and the universe. Many of the stories and myths associated with Norse paganism have been recorded in the form of Eddas, which are collections of poems and prose that serve as important sources of information about the religion. The two main Eddas are the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, which were written in the 13th century but draw on much older oral traditions.

Lúnasa, paganism’s August harvest holiday, becomes a moveable feast

The two main Eddas are the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, which were written in the 13th century but draw on much older oral traditions. The Poetic Edda consists of individual poems that celebrate the deeds of gods and heroes and provide insights into the beliefs and values of the Norse people. This collection includes the famous Völuspá, which is a prophecy about the end of the world, known as Ragnarök.

A loose combination of Irish harvest customs, Lúnasa has been adapted to match the calendar around the world.

Observers of Lúnasa, the wheat harvest festival, erected this straw-filled representation of a deity while it was still light outside, before setting it on fire once the sun had set. Creative Commons image by Bruce McAdam

August 1, 2022

(RNS) — For days ahead of the official holiday on Monday (Aug. 1), many modern pagans around the world have already been celebrating Lúnasa, the first of three harvest holidays on the modern pagan calendar called The Wheel of the Year.

Lúnasa, or Lughnasadh, the holiday, is typically celebrated by modern pagans with rituals, feasts and sometimes games. It is one of the greater Sabbats in Wiccan traditions and is largely tied to the agricultural cycles and folk traditions of Ireland.

“Lúnasa was originally not a single-day holiday,” said Morgan Daimler, a witch and independent scholar who studies and writes about Irish folk culture and religion. “Lúnasa was the epic holiday out of the year,” Daimler explained. People were coming out of the “lean month” of July, when spring foods were largely gone, and the harvest had yet to come.

In fact, in Irish Gaelic, Lúnasa is the name for the month of August. Some sources say that Lúnasa was once celebrated in the weeks before and after the beginning of the month, Daimler noted, especially before the establishment of the modern Western calendar. “Whenever your harvest was going to start, that is when Lúnasa would start,” said Daimler, who uses the pronoun “they.”

The festival ultimately became a loose combination of local Irish harvest customs that became blended over centuries. The day takes its name from the story of Lugh, a Celtic deity who fights and eventually beats Crom Dubh, also called Crom Cruach, a pre-Christian god and chthonic spirit intent on destroying the harvest. “Lugh wins the harvest for humanity,” Daimler said, saying that it is very likely that Lugh was the original template for the Christian missionary to Ireland, St. Patrick. “He came in and sort of replaced Lugh, but you can still see enough of the original story … to see how Lugh would be the original heroic being.”

Daimler began researching Irish folk traditions and culture at a young age after becoming fascinated with their family’s history. They eventually joined the Celtic Reconstructionist community.

Like other Reconstructionists, Daimler pored over folkloric texts, history and archeological finds to assemble a picture of the religious practices of pre-Christian Ireland. A Lúnasa tradition that survived into modern day is called well-dressing. “Entire communities process to a local holy well and dress them in flowers,” Daimler said. “It was thought that Lúnasa was the time it needed to be done.” While this tradition has mostly died out, they said, it was still being done across Ireland only 50 years ago.

In Ireland, the holiday is celebrated today with mostly secular festivals that include horse racing and other games. These festivals are similar to harvest festivals typically held in September or October in the United States.

Daimler no longer identifies specifically as a Reconstructionist but has not abandoned the traditions. On Lúnasa, Daimler and their family go wild berry picking — the fruits that are ready to be harvested at the time near their New England home.

Lúnasa is often confused with another Aug. 1 harvest holiday called Lammas, which literally translates to Loaf Mass. Originating from England, Lammas is a Christian holiday that honors the coming of the harvest. Breads made from the first fruits were traditionally taken to church as a gift.

While the two holidays have distinctly different origins, they both celebrate agricultural cycles. Daimler believes the conflation between the two happened in the 1970s to the 1990s, pre-internet, when access to source material was limited. Pagan authors did the best they could with what was available as they developed new earth-centered religions based on age-old folk traditions.

Not all modern pagans feel connected to Lúnasa and similar feasts, as many Westerners have lost touch with agricultural cycles. Some pagans find the holiday “silly” because its harvest celebrations don’t apply, Daimler said: July is never “lean,” and in many places the harvest starts in September.

Daimler also has seen pagans attempt to plant and harvest earlier in order to “cut and paste” the folk traditions into their modern practice. However, Daimler said that it’s better to work with the natural world around you and celebrate when the harvest comes around.

“Pagans talk about being an earth-centered religion, and the natural forces are so important to us,” said Daimler. This is why celebrating agriculturally based holidays is critical to modern pagan religious traditions. “We must remember that we are part of this world.”

Some pagans, particularly Wiccans, use the holiday’s mythology and its traditions as a metaphor for spiritual growth. Religious rituals and celebrations might center around celebrating one’s achievements and assessing one’s failures, rather than the literal harvesting of corn and wheat. But Daimler has one warning to anyone celebrating, whether they are harvesting berries, corn or personal achievements.

Though Lúnasa is not typically associated with fairies, Daimler said, they advise nonetheless to keep them in mind. One Lúnasa story holds that the Tuatha de Danaan, a magical race of beings, made an agreement with the Dagda, an Irish god, before they retired into the Irish fairy mounds. Fairy kind would help take care of the land, the animals and even the people, but in exchange, they were to receive a portion of the harvest.

“I leave a portion of my berries out every Lúnasa and so do my kids. I trained them well,” said Daimler.

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Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holidays: August 10th, 11th, 12th: Old Calendar Lammas Eve, Opet and The Light of Isis

The Ancient Egyptian Festival of Opet. “Secret Chamber” is the meaning given to “Opet”, which was when a statue of Amun was carried to Luxor from Karnak. Amun is unseen but Egyptians believed he was everywhere. He was the alpha creator and viewed as the wind.

August 11th

Interestingly enough, in many old Calendars, today is actually Lammas Eve, the first Harvest of the Grain, when God is said to enter the earth, giving his life to become the Grain. He will rule the next several months as Lord of Shadow in the Underworld and like the Grain, which drops it’s seed into the Earth (Our Mother Goddess), he holds the promise of being reborn come Spring.

August 12th

Let the Lights of Isis shine for all on this day in Ancient Egypt, This observance represents Isis, who searched for the dismembered parts of her murdered husband, Osiris, at night by way of a torch.

Today also happens to be the Blessing of Boats, in Ancient Egyptian History.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is one of Wicca’s eight sabbats during the year and always takes place on either July 31 or August 1. It represents the beginning of the harvest. Wiccans see the sabbats as changing relationships between the God and Goddess, with the death of the Goddess occurring during Lughnasadh, as the God Lugh is hosting her funeral games. As Autumn goes on, God will become weaker and weaker. An alternate view of Lughnasadh is that the Goddess is mourning his coming passing. Lughnasadh is sometimes overlooked due to a change in lifestyle from the traditional harvest schedule; however, it is still one of the four significant sabbats in Wicca.

Common Practices

Observers may participate in feats of strength honoring Lugh. They may also practice skills or reflect on the harvest. Many will bake bread, create a harvest altar, and hold a ritual to welcome the harvest. Believers create a sacred space outdoors, with leaders walking around an area and chanting while sprinkling the area with water and salt, which are believed to be spiritually cleansing. Representatives of elements such as earth, air, fire, and water are carried around the circle. At the same time, participants imagine a sphere of light and invite spirits associated with the cardinal directions into it. They often recite a poem to invite the harvest in.

Community Considerations

Do not schedule important events or activities, especially at night. Expect that observers will not attend meetings or communicate.

Other notable poems in the Poetic Edda include Lokasenna, which recounts a divine party that descends into chaos, and Hávamál, a collection of wisdom sayings attributed to the god Odin. The Prose Edda, written by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, is a more comprehensive work that serves as a guide for understanding Norse mythology. It includes a collection of poetic stories about the gods, as well as an explanation of the cosmology and the origins of the universe according to Norse beliefs. The Prose Edda is an invaluable source for modern scholars studying Norse paganism. In addition to the Eddas, there are other ancient texts, such as the sagas, that provide insights into Norse paganism. The sagas are epic tales that recount legendary events and the lives of historical figures. While not strictly religious in nature, these sagas often mention or incorporate elements of Norse mythology and paganism. Today, Norse paganism continues to attract interest and inspire modern practitioners. Many individuals and groups seek to connect with the gods and honor the traditions of their Norse ancestors. As a result, there are a variety of contemporary books and resources available that explore Norse paganism, providing guidance on rituals, beliefs, and practices. Norse pagan books cover a wide range of topics, from general introductions to in-depth analysis of specific gods, rituals, and myths. Some popular titles include "The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion" by Daniel McCoy, "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman, and "The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes" translated by Jackson Crawford. These books not only provide valuable information about Norse paganism but also help to keep the rich traditions and mythology of the Norse people alive in the modern world. They serve as a window into a fascinating ancient belief system and offer individuals an opportunity to connect with their ancestral heritage..

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