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Welcome the start of the harvest season with Lammas Day on Aug. 1! This is an ancient holiday that marks the beginning of autumn, and it’s a time for people to come together and celebrate the abundance of crops. From feasting to dancing, there are plenty of ways to make this special day even more memorable. According to legend, Lammas Day was first celebrated in England over 2,000 years ago when pagans would sacrifice grains and fruits as offerings to their gods. So gather your friends and family, break out some traditional foods, and get ready to enjoy one of the oldest holidays around!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>AD 1-1000</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origins of Lammas Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Centuries ago, early British pagans first marked Lammas Day, or "Loaf Mass Day," as the start of their harvest season.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1086</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Lammas in Domesday Book</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 1086, Lammas Day got its first written mention in the Domesday Book, a record of all property owned in England.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1500s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rituals and Customs Formed</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 1500s, Lammas Day had evolved into a time where locals baked bread with the first harvested grain and brought them to church as offerings.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Lammas Fairs Rise</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the 19th century, Lammas Fairs became integral to the holiday, increasing its social and economic significance.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1974</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Paganism Revives Lammas</div><div class='timeline-text'>Lammas, along with other Celtic festivals, experienced a resurgence following the rise of modern paganism.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Present Day</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Continuing Lammas Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Today, Lammas Day continues to be celebrated worldwide, particularly by modern pagans, with feasting, dancing, harvest events, and fairs.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Bake a loaf of bread</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Lammas Day is all about celebrating the harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. Bake a loaf of bread to commemorate the day, using fresh wheat grain and sourdough starter.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a Lammas Day party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite friends and family to your home for a Lammas Day celebration. Serve up delicious food like roasted corn on the cob, grilled vegetables, and home made breads. Decorate with fall colors and harvest decorations. Enjoy the company of your friends and family as you celebrate the bounty of the season.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go apple picking</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Head out to your local orchard and pick some apples. You can use them to make jams, pies, and other treats throughout the fall season.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a farmer's market</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to your local farmer's market and stock up on fresh produce. Talk to the farmers and learn more about where your food comes from and how it's grown.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate food to those in need</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take part in giving back to your community by donating food to shelters or soup kitchens in your area. Your donations will be greatly appreciated by those who need it most.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Honors the start of harvest season</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Lammas Day honors the beginning of harvest and the gathering of food for the year ahead. It's a day to give thanks for the abundance that nature provides us and celebrate the hard work of farmers and growers who make it all possible!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Recognizes the importance of community</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Lammas Day is also a time where people come together to share in their gratitude for one another. Whether it's through music, art, food, or simply enjoying each other's company, Lammas Day reminds us how important it is to take part in our community and appreciate what we have.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Symbolizes abundance & prosperity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>When celebrating Lammas Day, many people choose to make loaves of bread or engage in other activities that symbolize abundance and prosperity. These are means of offering thanks to the earth and hope for a successful future. So let’s enjoy these rituals as we shower our blessings on those around us!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Lammas Day has Celtic Roots</h3><p class='facts-content'>The roots of Lammas Day take us back to the Celts who celebrated ‘Lughnasadh’, in honor of the Irish god Lugh, marking it as the first day of Autumn.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Loaf Mass Day</h3><p class='facts-content'>The term 'Lammas' comes from the old English language, combining the words 'hlaf' (loaf) and 'maesse' (mass), symbolising gratitude for the rich harvest of grains.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Beyond Food: Harvest of Skills</h3><p class='facts-content'>While Lammas Day is traditionally acknowledged with feasting, it was also a time when people showcased their other 'harvests', including craftsmanship and trade skills.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Unique Lammas Day Games</h3><p class='facts-content'>Lammas Day was known for its unique games, which often included hand-fasting—a form of trial marriage where couples hold their hands wrapped in cloth, staying tied for a year and a day.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Lammas Day and the Globe Theatre</h3><p class='facts-content'>The famous Globe Theatre in London was opened to the public on Lammas Day in 1599. The connection between art and harvest was thus emphasised, making the day more special.</p></div></div>
Lammas Day is celebrated on August 1 every year. In 2024 Lammas Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Aug 1
Tuesday
2024
Aug 1
Thursday
2025
Aug 1
Friday
2026
Aug 1
Saturday
2027
Aug 1
Sunday
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