Lammas

Of course, we're all familiar with the start of our four seasons, but dates that are often forgotten, or their significance, are the days that come virtually in the middle of the season: The cross-quarter days. For the most part, we have heard of them, at least most of them, although we don't normally place much stock in them. For our ancestors, however, the start of a season was a very important part of their lives; in addition, they placed the first half of a season as the "revving up" of it. After the center time, to them the season was then on its way out, ready to give way to the one to follow.

Some of these days may sound familiar, although not necessarily for the reason they should: For example, not too many of us have poles in our backyards to dance around on May 1st - May Day - but many don costumes or have candy ready just in case someone might want to play a trick on you October 31st - Halloween - and, of course, we all wait patiently for the cute, fluffy little rodent to be dragged out of his hole to decide for us what the weather will be throughout February and March.

But, what about the cross-quarter day for summer, approximately August 1st? According to Jon Underwood Bell, in his An Astronomer's Book of Days (and Nights), the original name for this day was Lughnasadh, citing the marriage of the Celtic Sun god Lugh to Danu, the Earth goddess, assuring the crops would grow and ripen.

In Christian culture, August 1st was the "Loaf Mass," which became "Lammas." Loaves of bread baked at this time were consecrated as the "feast of first fruits," the first food of the harvest. As this time was one of mainly farming, most people worked continuously during the long daylight hours, sometimes 'till exhaustion. The Lammas was a small break to this period - a chance for all to bake some bread and give thanks for the respite.