Lughnasadh

English

Etymology

From Irish Lughnasadh (obsolete form of Lúnasa (“August”)), from Old Irish Lugnasad.

Proper noun

Lughnasadh

1. A Gaelic/Celtic holiday celebrated on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox, during the time of the harvesting.
   • 1998, Kelly Ann McMillin, Seasons of Time, Lulu.com, page i:

     The Celtic people of Ireland viewed they year in two equal halves, Samhain, side of dark, and Beltaine, side of light. Dividing these halves are the harvest festival of Lughnasadh and the spring festival of Imbolc. The Celtic year begins November 1st, but I have started my collection in the fall harvest festival of Lughnasadh, a time of year where memories abundant dance in my head like the leaves in which my brothers and I played.

   • 2012, Tony Collins, The Lost Crystal: Key to the ancient world of Thar Cernunnos, AuthorHouse, page 203:

     It was first light and the kitchens were alive with activity, this was Thar's day, the day of the festival of Lughnasadh, the beginning of a new year.

   • 2014, Lotuswulf Satyrhorn, Tribes of the Moon: A Book of Otherkin Coventry, Seasonal Rituals and Lunar Magick for All 13 Months, AuthorHouse, page 138:

     August brings us to the eighth month of our modern calendar and the celebrations of the first harvest at Lughnasadh and the Corn Moon.

Translations

holiday near the midpoint between summer solstice and autumnal equinox

• Spanish: lúnasa, festival de las primeras frutas m

See also

• Lammas
• (Wiccan Sabbats) Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, Mabon ^{(Category: en:Wicca)}

Further reading

• Lugh on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Wheel of the Year on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Irish

Noun

Lughnasadh m (genitive Lughnasadha)

1. Superseded spelling of Lúnasa.