Lammas open rituals

Lammas, or Lughasadh, is the festival of first fruits and is celebrated at the start of August, usually on August 1 or the closest weekend.

Here are some open rituals taking place in southern England to celebrate the start of the harvest:

On Thursday, 30 July, Pagan Federation London with Bacchus Border Morris is hosting an indoor Lammas ritual at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL. 7.30pm for 8pm start. Entrance £5 (£4 for members). Bring food and drink to share. No photographs allowed. Visit http://www.pflondon.org/index.html

Eastbourne Lammas Festival takes place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August 2009. This lovely pagan festival is completely free and great for a family day out. It offers folk music, morris dancing, traditional giants, a carnival, food, a beer tent and lots of stalls selling all sorts of lovely things. It takes place on the The Western Lawns, by Eastbourne seafront, in East Sussex. For more details, call 01323 737809 or visit the website http://www.lammasfest.org/index.html

Not too far from Eastbourne, Anderida Gorsedd Druid group holds large open rituals at the Long Man of Wilmington, in Sussex, on the Sunday closest to each of the eight pagan festival of the year. The Long Man is pictured above. The group's Lughnasadh ritual is taking place this Sunday, August 2. To take part, meet from 1.30pm to 2pm near the Long Man of Wilmington car park, for a walk up the hill at 2pm. Afterwards, those who want to to will retire to the Giants Rest pub for a social drink. For more details, visit anderida@BardicArts.com or visit the website http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/Anderida_Gorsedd/Open_Rituals.html

In London, the regular Lughnasadh on Primrose Hill is running again this year, on Sunday, August 2, starting at 12:45pm. This is a chance to celebrate the Druidic Festival of First Fruits with the Loose Association of Druids and is hosted by The Druid of Wormwood Scrubbs. Meet at Primrose Hill, London NW1 8YH, by the entrance opposite Rothwell St. For more details, email jtmorganhaberdasher@yahoo.co.uk.

Also on Sunday 2 August, the Gorsedd of Bards of Caer Abiril is holding a Lughnasadh Gathering at the wonderful stone circle at Avebury, in Wiltshire. Muster at noon beside the cafe before making the God and Goddess walks to the Sun Circle. This open ritual welcomes all who come with good intent whatever their personal path. Bring your songs and poetry if you wish, as well as bread and mead to share. Call Morgan on 01458 835518 for more details.

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/07/lammas-legends.html