It's August. We're still in the midst of the sultry dog days of 2020 where a
cold ice tea or Stella, shade, and a steady breeze make the thought of even
the smallest chores tolerable. You would think that a festival on this day
would celebrate the middle of summer but you would be wrong. In both the
pre-Christian and Christian eras today is Lammas Day celebrating the beginning
of the grain harvest. The name derives from "Loaf Mass" where bread loaves made from
the first grain harvests are presented at Mass and used in Holy
Communion. In pre-Christian times the festival also celebrated fertility, the
first harvest, as well as the presentation of that harvest by tenants to their
landlords. Over centuries traditions in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and
northern Europe have blended into a festival of faith, food, and
affection.
Here is some music for the festivities:
Here is some music for the festivities:
And here is wonderful folk tune with a lyric completed in 1783 by the Bard of Scotland, Robert Burns. It's a perfect capture - who would expect less from Burns - of the spirit of Lammas as a festival of life and love:
No comments:
Post a Comment