The Sabbat of Lughnasadh/Lammas is one of the major Sabbats, and takes place from sundown on July 31st through sundown on August 1st. The ancestry of the holiday is from the Celtic, traditionally a day of feasting, games and dancing. The day is not in honor of Lugh although it was named by him in fulfillment of an oath he swore. The actual holiday honors his foster mother Taillte.
The old Irish Gaelic name for this holiday was “Lugnasadh," pronounced "loo-nah-sah." Literally translated, “nasadh” is related to the Gaelic “to give in marriage.” This may be why this was another popular time for couples to be handfasted, sometimes called “Tailltean marriages,” which lasted for a year and a day. The day is now considered auspicious for signing contracts or for exchanging marriage vows. The more commonly used name “Lammas” is based on Old English, where “hlaf” is “loaf” and “maesse” is “feast.” The first grains were harvested at this time and offered to the gods or on church altars.
Lammas is the pre-harvest fall festival, honoring the very first signs of the coming autumn season. The ripening of grains (barley, oats and wheat) and corn is a main focus of this time of year. The Green Man was primary to these rites, sometimes called the Corn or Wicker Man. His death is necessary for the rebirth of the next season of crops, with his rebirth at Yule, and coming of age at Beltane.
