Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Millennial Witch: The ‘First Fruits’ of a Modern Lughnasadh

Millennial Witch: The ‘First Fruits’ of a Modern Lughnasadh

Last updated on: July 26, 2018 at 5:50 am by Melissa Smith

Millennial Witch: The ‘First Fruits’ of a Modern Lughnasadh 2018-07-26T05:50:14+00:00 Melissa Smith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Autumn Sabbats have always been special to me. Not just because of Halloween/Samhain, but also because of Mabon, and most importantly, Lughnasadh.

The First Harvest Festival of the Year, Lughnasadh (also commonly called Lammas) is most often celebrated around August 1st. (Though in some Druid and Celtic Pagan circles, it is the full moon closest to that date.) It marks the time when the grain was harvested, lammas bread was given to the barn corners, and in some Pagan circles, The Harvest God dies. In certain cases, this holiday is overlooked for it’s two successors, but I firmly believe we shouldn’t bypass this first harvest time.

“Harvesters” by Anna Archer (1905). From WikiMedia.

Transformation, rebirth, death,and sacrifice are all aspects of this holiday. I take this time to bake some homemade bread, eat some freshly husked corn, or harvest the last few blackberries that still linger on the bush. Speaking of fruits, I was thinking to myself, how have we as a people updated this ancient festival? What kind of first fruits could a modern witch give to the Gods? I dug out my book Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy to view some of the rituals listed in there. I used them as a guideline to update some Lughnasadh rituals one could celebrate, with some…modern advances.

-The Oldest Bread in the Book-

Baking bread is an ancient and actually relaxing form of kitchen witchcraft and a critical part of Lughnasadh. Though, may I suggest a bread maker and a dough mixer? You are still placing your intent within the bread, with all the herbs and such you want to add to it, but sometimes standing around all day and kneading dough is hard on the feet and wrists. Most bread makers run less than $100 dollars, and you can still play with the dough if you want too after it comes out of the mixer! The Gods aren’t going to turn their nose up at you for using a little bit of tech to make your bread.

Great herbs I’ve used in my bread include Herbs de Provence, rosemary, and even cinnamon. Also, always make sure your yeast is active by waiting about 5 minutes and then adding some sugar to it. It should bubble up if it is. Once your bread is finished, baked and beautiful, either place four pieces of it outside around the four corners of your house, or use it at your next party or family gathering to enjoy the first breaking of bread with your friends and family. Honor the sacrifice of the wheat and other grains.

-Blackberry Spice Tea-

I love blackberries, and even more so when I found out they were good for people with gout and stomach ulcers. Tradition says to make these yummy berries into a pie, but nothing says Autumn is on its way like an amazing hot cup of tea. Gather some of those blackberries that are still a little firm but not too firm. If they are a little purple, that’s okay too. Grab a blender, and then it’s time to start!

Blackberries from PXhere, CC License.

To make a modest amount of tea, take about 16 oz of blackberries (or about 2 cups), blend well and strain over cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to get out those tiny seeds. Place in a pot and on low heat, drop in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of crushed cloves, a cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir until it starts to bubble and the sugar is dissolved. If you want to add honey to taste, do so here! Making it the traditional way using a mortar and pestle, and an open fire is great and all, but I think being able to make this at midnight over a whirling blender is a great modern alternative.

Think of it this way, you are transforming the blackberries into a delicious tea! Sit at your altar and pour some for your Gods, or add some alcohol to it for your coven gathering! If you do that, make sure you add the alcohol after you boil it!

It’s obvious our modern advances have made it much easier to present our first fruits to the Gods, as well to our peers. Our stoves, ovens, blenders, and bread makers can still be magickal tools of the trade, and they can be used in amazing ways for Lughnasadh. Harvest your first fruits in your own modern way, and I bet you will find the Gods will enjoy it anyway.

About Melissa Smith

Melissa, more commonly called Mellie, has been studying religions for over 15 years, with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies marking her triumph. She is also an eclectic witch, having about 13 years of experience with it. She loves to write, having self-published a book of poetry, keeping up a blog and draw/paint, were she has a Patreon to help fund her. She is all over social media, and loves helping or answering any questions people have. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

July 26, 2018

Between Two Worlds: TERF's and Transphobia in the Pagan Community

Next Post

July 28, 2018 Radical Pantheist: Asatru, Building Temples and Breaking Barriers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Lakeside Hearth Adventures in Wortcunning Alone In Her Presence Arts, Crafts & Cooking Birthing Hereditary Witchcraft Book of Blackbirds Book Reviews Born-Again Witch Cauldron, Sword, Spear, & Stone Cermony and Liturgy Columns Community Dandelion Seeds Dear Jasmine Druid Thoughts Editor's Picks Everyday Pagan Family & Household Practice Family Traditions Full Frontal Magic Gateway Goddess Guest Articles Happily Heathen Health and Wellness Hearth of Hellenism Heathen Woman Hills of the Horizon History Holidays Horse Goddesses Interfaith Interviews Irish-American Witchcraft Jewish Witch Lamp & Labyrinth Letters from Midgard Literature, Media, Film, Music Loop of Brighid Love, Sex & Relationships Magic or Magick Making Light Naturalistic Traditions Nature News Outside The Circle Pantheisticon Politics Prayers, Poems, Blessings & Stories Queer Femme Mystic Queer of Swords Recipes Ritual and Practice Science and Research Seekers and Guides Seeking the Grail Socially Responsible Magic Spear of Athena Star Made Witch Syncretic Electric Technology The Blooming Staff The Busy Witch The Cartomancer The Crow's Nest The Dance of Pagan Recovery The Hearth of Hellenism The Lady's Quill The Other Side of the Hedge The Path of She The Rantin' Raven The Witches Next Door The Zen Pagan Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Tree City Witch Urban Earthwitch Wayfaring Woman Witch on Fire Wyrd Words

Select a Month January 2026 March 2025 December 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 August 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the Roman emperor during Jesus’ birth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Tiberius Caesar Augustus Nero Herod